Lancaster DS624 at Wombleton airfield.
On Christmas Eve 1943 this 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 the aircraft and ran clear but the bomber ran off the runway and
onto the grass. The fire was put out and the damage was repaired. 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.
Pilot - F/Sgt Joseph E F Jean RCAF (R/96956), uninjured.
FEng - Sgt E Dacre RAF (575275). Uninjured.
Nav - F/O C Gray RCAF (J/14671). Uninjured.
BA - F/Sgt H Lockett RCAF (R/94472). Uninjured.
WOp/AG - F/Sgt C Elsey RCAF (R/129030). Uninjured.
MUG - Sgt G Desjardins RCAF (R/207492). Uninjured.
RG - Sgt J Favreau RCAF (R/194221). Uninjured.
"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 17th October 1941. He was later commissioned in 1944 and awarded the DFC whilst serving with either 425 Squadron (Mr Hugh Halliday)
or 426 Squadron (Mr Richard Koval). The award being effective from the 1st December 1944, and was Gazetted on 12th December 1944. It
seems liely that he served with 426 Squadron for the actions in which his DFC was awarded
but was posted to 425 Squadron when he was awarded it. The citation reads...
Nothing is known about any of the other aircrew.
Lancaster DS624 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 Squadron 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 Squadron 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.