STORY OF LANCASTER LL 690-JIJ FRIDAY JUNE 16 th h52 AM LL 690 JIJ CRASHED IN IWUY

THE CREW Inside 7 crew members 6 British 1 Canadian there is no survivor

MISSION RAILWAY YARD VALENCIENNES LL 690 took off by June 15th at 23h14 PM from Waterbeach(GB). 123 bombers left for the railway yard in Valenciennes wich is the target Tons of bombs will be dropped wether 1798 bombs. After he dropped the bombs LL690 took a cap way down Waterbeach. Valenciennes The railway yard Seen from above the Following day.

CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PLANE

CREW MEMBERS INSIDE THE PLANE Bomber Pilot Flight Engineer Navigator Wireless Radio Mid upper Gunner Rear Gunner

INSIDE THE COCKPIT A feature on the Lancaster, there is no dual command, if the driver is Killed or injured, he must be extracted from his seat and the Flight engineer took His place. Pilot Officer Ernest Arthur Kingham age 23 English from Luton Bedfordshire

Sergeant Franck Spencer age 20 THE BOMBER Near the target he takes over the Navigator and he Becomes the most important crew member. After the phrase « Bombs gone », the unit may return to its base. The bomber also served as front gunner

FLIGHT ENGINEER Sergeant Joseph Black Age 21 English from Newcastle Before each flight, he is responsible for electrical, hydraulic And mechanical circuits. In flight he must constantly check the complex motor parameters.

THE NAVIGATOR Sergeant Raymond Harold Hutt Age 23 English from Leicester This position requires the most concentration and real skills in mathematics and permanent intellectual availability. He provides informations on the course to follow And gives way to go to the target and return, in compliance with the courses imposed By flight plans. He sits behind separated by a metal paroie driver.

He is just behind the navigator. He is listening to the radio exchanges between friends and also between enemies. He detects enemies aircrafts listening to sound pulses. Sergeant Benjamin Bloom English 23 ans THE WIRELESS OPERATOR

THE MID UPPER GUNNER Sergeant Frederick Neale Ansell English age 34 From Tottenham He is installed in the last rear third of the plane in a turret and exposed as His colleague rear gunner to extreme temperatures. He is uncomfortably Suspended on a canvas seat and scans the darkness in search of eventual Enemy fighters. Located above the cockade adorning the fuselage is a Perfect target for German aircraft.

THE REAR GUNNER Probably the worst place if there is one in the crew. Temperatures Can reach - 40 °Celsius to the altitudes where the plane can fly. There is no heating inside the Lancaster. The rear gunner is the most isolated member of the crew. Locked in Its narrow capsule he can't wear his parachute which is outside his post. Sergeant Daniel George Davies Canadian 27 ans

THE GERMAN NIGHT FIGHTER The crew consists of 2 men, 1 pilot and a wireless operator. The pilot is Peter Ehrhardt, he totalised 22 victories as a night fighter. During the night of August 17 to 18, 1943 he destroyed 4 Allied bombers in 30 minutes over Penemunde. Lieutenant Ehrhardt survives the war and died on August 5, 1983 in Dusseldorf. The plane took off from the base of Athis Laon.

L'ATTAQUE DU MESSERSHMITT BF 110 The attack is insidious. It took RAF several months to understand the tactical Used by German hunters at night. Machine guns 20mm firing in Oblique and without tracer. BF 110 comes from below. The crew did not see the enemy fighter coming there is little time to react, The Lancaster is less than 2000 meters above sea level.