617 SQ. & Lancaster Questions?

[Jerry O'Neill]

I just finished watching "The Dam Busters" again and was wondering two things:

Has any crash sites of the lost aircraft of 617 SQ. ever been located?

and the second question is totally unrelated to the mission:

Does anyone know if Lancaster engine packages from the firewall forward were used for the CASA 2111 that were manufactured in Spain?

They sure do look incredibly similar.
Thanks.
Jerry

[Firebird]

I just finished watching "The Dam Busters" again and was wondering two things:

Has any crash sites of the lost aircraft of 617 SQ. ever been located?

Don't think so.

However, recently, a Dams raid Lanc crash site was excavated, but it was one of the Sorpe raid a/c that made it back to the UK, and was later reconverted back to normal configuration and subsequently lost later in the war. One of the few items recovered though, was the unique Dams Raid Vickers K MG mounts fitted to the u/s of the a/c. This confimed the a/c identity. There was a TV documentary shown here in the UK about the recovery last year IIRC.

What's now unfathomable to our minds is the fact that Guy Gibsons actual Dams Raid Lanc AJ-G ED932, remained at RAF Scampton until the war's end, and was still parked out on the edge of the airfield for another few years afterwards, before being uncremoneously scrapped without thought in 1947.
What price now for such an historic airframe..?

[Mark V]

Has any crash sites of the lost aircraft of 617 SQ. ever been located?

Jerry, yes they are documented. I think there is a recent book on the subject but would have to verify that for you.

[lestweforget]

Has any crash sites of the lost aircraft of 617 SQ. ever been located?

Jerry, yes they are documented. I think there is a recent book on the subject but would have to verify that for you.

There is. Haven't read it yet but plan to. http://www.amazon.com/DAMBUSTER-RAID-CRASH-SITES-Squadron/dp/1844155684

Did not realise Gibsons Lanc survived for so long!! The old story , what could have been!

[Mark V]

There is. Haven't read it yet but plan to. http://www.amazon.com/DAMBUSTER-RAID-CRASH-SITES-Squadron/dp/1844155684

Did not realise Gibsons Lanc survived for so long!! The old story , what could have been!

Thats the one - thanks LWF. Yes - scrapping Gibsons machine was a tragedy.

[lestweforget]

Here is the link to the Dambusters Lanc that was excavated and filmed for the UK television documentary "The Last Of The Dambusters"

http://www.redkitebooks.co.uk/aa/ex08_Lancaster_Doulens.html

[Paul Patist]

Jerry,

The following book tells it all !

Dambuster Crash Sites, 617 Dambuster Squadron Crash Sites in Holland & Germany by Chris Ward & Andreas Wachtel. Isbn 978 84415 568 2
(Aviation Heritage Trail Series, www.pen-and-sword.co.uk)

Good luck !

Paul

[Jerry O'Neill]

Thanks guys!
Very interesting.
Too bad about Gibson's Lanc!

Anybody have an answer to question #2?
Lanc QEC's being used for the CASA .2111 Heinkel's?

Jerry

[dhfan]

I've no idea, but I would say it's very likely. RR and Bristol had been working towards complete power-egg installations since around the middle of the war. If there's something already designed, complete with radiators and plumbing, it would seem a waste of time to start again from scratch.

[Warbird Kid]

When the time comes to convert my 1/144 He-111 into a CASA .2111 ill let you know!

[Richard Woods]

Hi all,

ED932 was scrapped after having a multiple birdstrike while disposing of surplus "upkeep" mines in 1947, supposedly the control column and instrument panel were saved only to go missing...

Also somewhere on a dutch beach is supposed to be the remains of Dinghy Young's aircraft though I don't think it has been located yet.

I think the Merlin Power eggs were the same ones you can find on certain marks of Beaufighter, Wellington and licence built Heinkel, as well as the Lancaster.

Regards

Ric