Lancaster at Wombleton airfield.
The Lancaster and its crew were awaiting take off for a circuits and landings exercise with the engines idling, fuel was found to have been dripping
onto the starboard inner engine which then caught fire and the
extingushers did not put out the flames. The crew escaped and the bomber ran off onto the grass. It suffered Cat B
damage and the damage engine replaced. The cause was investigated by the AIB but the cause has not yet been
determined by myself from their records. While the pilot was partly blamed for not spotting the dripping fuel he later became an outstanding bomber pilot
and was awarded the DFC for his actions.
The aircraft was built to contract AC 239 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton ad delivered to MU storage in October 1942. It was
eventually issued to an operation unit, 115 Sqdn at East Wretham in March 1943 when the unit converted from Wellington B.III's
to Lancaster B.II's. It was transferred to 426 Sqdn at Linton on Ouse on an as yet unspecified date in late 1943 and then onto
1679 HCU (1679 HC Flt) at East Moor soon after. The aircraft moved with the unit to Wombleton on 13th December 1943 only to be Cat.E2/GA Burnt on 24th
December 1943 in the incident detailed above.
Pilot - F/Sgt Joseph E F Jean RCAF (R/96956), ok.
FEng - Sgt E Dacre RAF (575275).
Nav - F/O C Gray RCAF (J/14671).
BA - F/Sgt H Lockett RCAF (R/94472).
WOp/AG - F/Sgt C Elsey RCAF (R/129030).
MUG - Sgt G Desjardins RCAF (R/207492).
RG - Sgt J Favreau RCAF (R/194221).
""This officer is a pilot of exceptional skill who has completed a very successful tour of operations over enemy
territory. In March 1944 he and his crew were detailed to bomb Berlin. While over the target anti-aircraft
fire became very heavy, visibility was poor and the weather stormy. Despite severe damage from the
anti-aircraft fire, Pilot Officer Jean pressed home a very successful attack. On the return flight
severe ground fire was once again encountered over Brussels. The rear gunner was wounded and further
damage done to the aircraft. With great determination and courage, however, Pilot Officer Jean flew
it safely back to base. This officer has displayed exceptional gallantry, ability and resolution
throughout his whole operational tour"". They landed at Coltishall on return from this one incident, which occured on 24/25th March 1944.
Joseph Jean was born in Phomphile, Quebec, Canada and prior to enlisting his home was in L'Islet, Quebec, he enlisted
in Quebec on 17 Oct 1941.
He trained at No.3 ITS (graduated 5 June 1942), No.11 EFTS (graduated 4 September 1942) and
No.13 SFTS (graduated 19 February 1943). He was later commissioned in 1944. He was awarded the DFC whilst serving with either 425 Sqdn (Mr Hugh Halliday)
or 426 Sqdn (Mr Richard Koval). The award being effective from the 1st of December 1944, and was Gazetted on 12 Dec 1944. It seems liely that he served with 426 Sqdn for the actions in which his DFC was awarded
but was posted to 425 Sqdn when he was awarded it. The citation reads...