Sgt Lancaster and his crew; Boyes, Thom, Raber, Lancaster and a member of ground crew a F/Sgt Wood.

John Lancaster was born in Wandsworth, London in Decemeber 1943 and was living in Yorkshire when he enlisted into the RAF in 1941. He and his crew were one of the first three 429 Squadron crews to arrive at East Moor when 429 Squadron were posted there in November 1942 and his and the other two of these first three crews became known as "The Muskateers". John Lancaster received a commission on 2nd March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)

Another website details the early 429 Squadron Wellington-days and states.. "Sgt Manuel Rabinovitch, part of Sgt Lancaster's crew, said that the day after they arrived there were still no aircraft for the crews to fly in. They kept busy getting flying gear issued, learning the lay of the land, participating in various sporting events and doing what training they could without aircraft. According to Sgt Boyes logbook, Lancaster's Bomb Aimer, the crew didn't make their first training flight until 31st December 1942." "76 and 78 Squadron, stationed at Linton on Ouse, were responsible for taking the "Bison" pilots on their second Dickie trips. These trips took place from 18th November 1942 to 9th December 1942." "Reporting to the squadron in the early days was not an event that inspired confidence. When Sgt John Lancaster and his crew arrived at the small train station in the wilds of North Yorkshire they called to the East Moor Station to have someone pick them up. The Orderly Officer at the other end of the phone told them there was only one truck on strength and it had been dispatched to the York train station to pick up other aircrews that had arrived. The Orderly Officer, who was also the Medical Officer, sent the ambulance out to pick them up. The men had to leave their baggage at the train station because there was no room in the ambulance for the men and their kit. They were dropped off at the Sergeant's Mess. The Orderly Sergeant promptly appeared and informed the gaggle that there was only one cook and two kitchen staff and they were located at the Airmen's mess. They enjoyed a meal of tea and sandwiches at the Airmen's mess then bedded down for the night at the Senior NCO's Barracks! At this point there were a total of two officers, the Medical Officer and Adjudant, one WO1, one Quartermaster Sergeant with a staff of three airmen along with the newly arriving aircrews." "A great deal of excitement occurred on 25th November 1942 when the roar of Hercules engines of the Squadron's first four Wellington MkIII's flew over the airfield and landed at 14.30hrs. S/Ldr Cairns, Sgt Lancaster and two other crews (probably DeBussac and Bruce) had picked up the Wimpy's from Driffield, which was fifteen minutes airtime from East Moor. These four Wellington's were handed over by 466 (Australian) Squadron." "The weather was very miserable and permanently foggy allowing Lancaster and his crew to fly only twice in December." This account is included to give the casual reader of this website an idea of the sparseness of East Moor at this stage in the War as it prepared for operational readiness."

"P/O Lancaster had been doing most of the test flying, familiarization flying for the new pilots and acting as the Senior Pilot in A-Flight ever since he arrived at the Squadron. At this point P/O John Lancaster and crew had completed twelve operational flights. The following day Ron Hale, Lyn Boyes and Manny were called into the Orderly Room and given applications for their officer commissions to fill out and return to the Adjutant. They were told it was RCAF policy to commission all crews who had finished twelve ops and had no derogatory items on their record. After this task was completed they helped P/O Lancaster move into his new digs at the Officers Quarters at Sutton Hall."

Lancaster's last operational flight with 429 Squadron was on 3rd July 1943. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 2nd September 1943. John Lancaster was awarded the DFC for service with 429 Squadron, Gazetted on 7th December 1943, there appears to have been no citation as such. He had completed his Tour and was posted to 1679 HCU on 27th October 1943. He was later promoted to F/Lt on 2nd March 1945 and resigned his commission on 26th June 1947.