Unexpected details found in the logs of a Lancaster bomber n

[Shippo]

Dave Pike was no stranger to the Royal Air Force when he joined the RAF as a pilot from London University Air Squadron. He quickly 'saw the light' and transferred to become a Navigator. After three tours as a Vulcan Navigator-Radar on 50 and 101 Squadrons, a staff tour at HQ No 1 Group and an instructor tour at navigator-school, he retired at age 38 and spent the next sixteen years teaching Craft, Design, and Technology in three Lincolnshire secondary schools. In 1998 at the age of 54 he returned to the RAF as a senior instructional officer teaching Principles of Flight to firstly basic pilot students and eventually Central Flying School Students. His main interest is the History of Navigation, together with the outdoors, and of sailing.

Dave has recently discovered a folder containing almost all the logs and charts completed by a navigator in Bomber Command during his tour of 32 operations between September 1944 and April 1945. The set of logs has provided a rare minute-by-minute account, in the navigator's own hand, of how bomber operations were conducted during this final stage of the Second World War. The Lancaster navigator served on 463 Squadron based at RAF Waddington during those sorties

The completed logs confirm that, compared to the early days, that by September 1944 the Royal Air Force had been moulded into an accurate and deadly killing machine relying heavily upon saturating the enemy defences by the use of a 'bomber stream' held closely together by the use of the hyperbolic aid Gee and at greater range, by Loran. Also they reveal the use of electronic warfare to confuse enemy radar and the use of 'pathfinders' and a 'master bomber' to indicate and control the target area.
The logs also indicate unexpected details including: the absence of astro navigation, negligible use of visual pinpoints and radio bearings, the crew's early sorties being anything but gentle introductions, the neatness of the navigator's printing, even in combat and the fact that the crew member logs were marked and commented on return by his Navigation Leader.

Dave has been invited to give an illustrated talk about set of logs and charts which are in his keep called A LANCASTER NAVIGATOR'S LOGS AND CHARTS ANALYSED.

To find out more about the folder and what it contains should be intriguing to those wanting an insight in the missions carried out by aircrews of Bomber Command during World War Two.

The lecture will be held in the WW2 gymnasium at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, Lincoln, on the Wednesday, 22nd July, beginning at 7.30pm. Admission is £5.00 for visitors to include refreshments. It is free to Friends of Metheringham Airfield and veterans of 106 Squadron.

For further enquiries contact 01526 378270

John Shipton
Friends of Metheringham Airfield
Wartime home to 106 Squadron
Lincoln