Request for info on wartime Lancaster crash into the English Channel January 1943.

[Centaurus]

I received this from a friend. Can anyone give him advice on where to search the internet for more details or indeed if they already have details?

Cent.

With your knowledge of all things aircraft, I am hoping that you may be able to help with a little research that came my way following a discussion with a very nice vet and his wife on Anzac Day after the march and service at Cleveland. They are trying to find out what happened to a Lancaster with a relative on board – it disappeared on the night of 17/18 January 1943 during a bombing sortie over Germany. The only details they gave me are:

Stanley Earnest Logue (Gunner)
ID NO; 22643 (??)
Lancaster “L” for London, 1656 Heavy Conversion ED316
Based at Lindholme AB

The couple have had no luck finding information except that it may have gone down in the English Channel after an altercation with a Night fighter – nothing has been confirmed though. They have spent a lot on telephone calls to England but have come up with zip except a large phone bill. Anything you could find out would be much appreciated.

[papajuliet]

The book "Bomber Command losses 1943" by W R Chorley contains the following -
Lancaster serial no ED316 of 1656CU took off from Lindholme for a Berlin op.
Lost without trace. All crew commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Crew...
F/L S D L Hood RNZAF
Sgt H F Muller RAAF
P/O K B Walter RAAF
Sgt D J Lindsay RAAF
P/O K A C Weaving RAAF
Sgt Woodrow
Sgt S E Logue RAAF

[Brian Abraham]

Paucity of info available it would seem Centaurus. Crash site is listed as "Unknown". Only info to add is the airframe had a total of 42 hours, and aircraft seems to have been coded EK-?. From the info you provide it would seem EK-L. The other 1656 code used was BL-. 170 Lancasters participated in the Berlin raid that night, 1 crashed and 19 were lost.

Edit to add: The aircraft lost that night were

ED316 1656CU missing 42 hours
ED318 44Sq KM-X lost (Kiel) 48 hours
ED388 12Sq lost
ED436 9Sq missing 25 hours
ED444 49Sq missing 11 hours
ED471 50Sq lost 5 hours
R5575 97 Sq missing 100 hours
R5630 83Sq OL-T missing 221 hours
R5843 1654CU missing
R5900 106Sq crashed
W4157 9Sq WS-V missing 30 operations 285 hours
W4321 101Sq wrecked 90 hours
W4368 12Sq missing
W4372 12Sq missing
W4378 467Sq missing 55 hours
W4379 9Sq missing 33 hours
W4761 9Sq WS-P missing
W4767 61Sq crashed
W4772 1654CU missing
W4816 460Sq AR-K abandoned in air

[Centaurus]

Many thanks for your replies, Brian and Papajuliet. I have given them to a grateful recipient and suggested he follow the Pprune posts personally
Cent.

[RichnEm]

I have been trying to find information on FSGT Stanley Ernest Logue for some years now. He would be to me my Great Uncle. I understand that there is still many missing RAAF and RAF from the war. I am hoping that he and his crew will be found someday. I have his service record and there is a large amount of confusion about his where abouts as his family had received some form of contact from the Red Cross at the time saying that he was ok. Any information would be greatly appreciated about Stan for my family.

Has the vet and his wife found any other information?

Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks