ED781 (DX-J) a Lancaster I of 57 Squadron, took off at 2252 from RAF Scampton on 24 June 1943 for its target Wuppertal in the heart of Germany’s Rhur industrial region but never made it. One of the period’s larger operations, a total of 630 aircraft (215 Lancasters, 171 Halifax, 101 Wellingtons, 98 Stirlings and 9 Mosquitos) flew in the operation and 34 aircraft were lost. DX-J aircraft was intercepted and shot down by a German nightfighter from Stab/II/NJG1 flown by Oberltnt Wilhelm Telge. The aircraft crashed at 0120 near Lantin, 8km from the centre of Liege in Belgium. Only Sgt Lambdin, the Bomb Aimer, managed to bale out and was taken POW; the rest of the crew are buried at the cemetery of Heverlee.
Wreck of Lancaster EDF781