Hello Neil, and Welcome!!
If Q Queenie was their regular aircraft, then they were a very experienced crew and perhaps we can ask you to add your Dad's memoirs to this thread?
By the sound of your statement that the Leipzig raid was his last flight he must have been badly injured not to fly again. At least they made it back to Manston
166 Squadron Lancaster Mk III. Serial Number: LM382. Coded: AS-Q. Operation: Leipzig. 19th /20th February 1944. LM382 was delivered to 166 Sqdn 2nd Nov 1943. LM382 took part in the following Key Operations: Berlin 22/23 Nov 1943; Berlin 23/24 Nov 1943; Berlin 26/27 Nov 1943; Berlin 2/3 Dec 1943; Berlin 16/17 Dec 1943; Berlin 23/24 Dec 1943; Berlin 1/2Jan 1944; Brunswick 14/15 Jan 1944; Berlin 27/28 Jan 1944; Berlin 30/31 Jan 1944; Berlin 15/16 Feb 1944; Leipzig 19/20 Feb 1944 aborted, crash-landed at Manston. When SOC this aircraft had a total of 184 hours. LM382 was one of four 166 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. (See: ME627; ME637; DV220)
Airborne 2340 19th Feb 1944 from Kirmington. Outbound, intercepted and very badly shot up by night-fighters and Sgt Wright and Sgt Powers were badly wounded. The bomb load was jettisoned and course was set for Manston, Kent, where the Lancaster crash landed at 0605 20th Feb 1944, being wrecked in the process.
P/O J.H. Catlin, Injured; Sgt H.C. Wright, Wounded; P/O A.W. Pragnell, Injured; P/O F.C. Sim RCAF, Injured; Sgt T.P.F. Hall, Injured; Sgt T. Powers, Wounded; Sgt W. Birch, Injured.
(Source:
Bomber Command Leipzig Raid )
I hope that at least the pilot got an award for bringing his crew back, and a very valiant effort to save the aircraft too. They must have been attacked near the target before attempting to make it home, as it was over 6 hours in a crippled aircraft! A very seasoned (and lucky) crew!
Please provide more details if you have them...