Dear Peter,

I have a strong interest in squadron history and you might be interested in a few facts relating to the loss of this Lancaster and its gallant crew on 26/9/44. The Lancaster is incorrectly labelled in the diary as being brought down on a German target on the night 26/27 September 1944. This is because it was a "one-off order" for one plane only, probably from Headquarters 5 Group which occurred during the day of the 26th. I am in possession of the Ops. microfiche and as far as I could see this aircraft was not listed as departing, which it most certainly did on this day for a raid on Calais, France.

LM587 was a camera aircraft of the squadron and as well as carrying Anthony Tottenham DFC and his crew was also containing two Royal Air Force Flying Officers who I presume were members of the RAF Special Film Unit who also lost their lives. The target was Calais, France, the shortest operation possible and regarded as a "milk run", but tragically they were brought down near the target and they were all killed. I have the casualty file for Ronald Charles Brookman, the navigator, which confirms this. Also, all the crew as well as the two Royal Air Force members, are buried at Wissant in the Pas De Calais, the site of the crash. Bill Chorley, in his seminal works "Bomber Command Losses" confirms the target for this Lancaster as being Calais.

From what I know, the only times 463's Lancasters were despatched singly was when they were camera aircraft. Other points of interest - this Lancaster is in Garbutt's book about Lancasters - it has groundcrew sitting in the cockpit and I believe the Southern Cross painted on left hand side nose .Also, the captain Anthony Tottenham was on his 36th operation and should already have been screened - without doubt he must have been flying his last operation.

From Ronald Brookman's file, witnesses of the Free French Army gave the following testimony, to the effect-

"German forces were still holding out in the Pas De Calais on the 26th September. This Lancaster flew very low over the positions (we know they were probably photographing) and was seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire, immediately crashed and exploded. We later went to the site where the aircraft had completely burnt itself out. There were minimal remains of the crew but we were warned off by British or Canadian soldiers. Three days later we went again and the remains of the crew were still unburied. We bought a number of coffins but found only enough of them to fill one. There were only two whole bodies but burnt so that they had shrunk. The coffin were buried with reverence in the cemetery at Wissant." Subsequent recovered I.D. including the dogtags of one of the gunners, definitely identified the aircraft as being Tottenham's of 463.

Dear Peter, I hope you find this of interest. I guess even sixty years on there are new facts emerging, such as Ivan Durston's Lancaster of 467 being found. Interesting! Congratulations on your excellent website and best wishes to the veterans who will attend the reunion.

Best regards,

Michael Deutscher

Michael Deutscher

Social Worker

MontroseAccess

Phone 37171182

Fax 37171147

Email mdeutscher@montroseaccess.org.au