Lancaster Crew Log books

Below are example 550 Squadron air-crew log books. These show various pre-operational, training and live operations during 1944-1945.
Where a small (lower resolution) and a large (higher resolution) picture is available, then either or both can be accessed to see the details.
The smaller will be a faster download the larger will take longer, but the clarity is excellent in either version.

Log book (Fl. Lt. Fleming and crew, North Killingholme)

Flight Lieutenant Edward Greer Fleming, RNZAF, 550 Squadron (number NZ415305), spent about three and a half years in England as a flying instructor
with the RAF from around August 1942. He travelled to a number of bases and in September 1944 he went to #28 OTU in Wymeswold.
In February 1945 he went to #1656 HCU at Lindholme in Yorkshire flying Lancaster I's (he had completed 1180 hours flying by then).

The log book entries below show training flights leading up to a pilot going fully operational. Possibly typical for trainee pilots (who may have trained on Oxfords or, as in this case, Wellingtons prior to moving on to Lancasters). These provide an insight into the process of going from training squadron to Operational Training Units (OTU) to Heavy Conversion Units (HCU).

Photo (small)	Photo (large)	Description
		OTC in Wellingtons in November/December 1944 A little more information about OTC 27 can be found at RAF Tatenhill, which was a satellite station of RAF Lichfield recorded in the log. Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 70Kb, the large 605Kb.
		HCU in February/March 1945 More details about the training carried out in HCU 1656 can be found at RAF Lindholme. Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 74Kb, the large 596Kb.

Log book (Fl. Lt. Fleming and crew, North Killingholme)

Live and training operations in the period April-August 1945.

Photo (small)	Photo (large)	Description
		Training operations in March/April 1945 Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 74Kb, the large 543Kb.
		Operations in May 1945 Log shows supply drops (Operation Manna) and prisoners-of-war evacuation (Operation Exodus). Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 69Kb, the large 525Kb.
		Operations in June/July 1945 "Cook's tour" - a sightseeing flight taking non-aircrew personnel for a flight over France & Germany to show them the results of the bombing campaign. Note that this one got recalled (weather perhaps) so that would have been disappointing for the passengers. Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 80Kb the large 575Kb.
		Operations in August 1945 Log shows Operation Dodge flights. Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 75Kb, the large 556Kb.

RAF Bomber Command Operations

Described below are a number of operations carried out by RAF Bomber Command, accompanied by diary excerpts recorded at the time.

Operation Manna - May 1945

Operation Manna was an Allied operation to drop supplies to the starving Dutch people as the Germans withdrew in front of the Allied advance.
See Operations Manna and Chowhound and Operations Manna for general information about the operations.

The following excerpt is taken from Fl. Lt. Fleming's diary describing his Operation Manna flight on 4th May 1945.

Operation Exodus - May 1945 09/11/2009

Carried out in May 1945 Operation Exodus involved flying recently released Allied PoWs back to the United Kingdom.

The following excerpt is taken from Fl. Lt. Fleming's diary describing his Operation Exodus flight on 7th May 1945.

Operation Dodge - August 1945

British troops were repatriated back to the United Kingdom from Italy by Operation Dodge. See also: Operation Dodge for photographs.

The following excerpt is taken from Fl. Lt. Fleming's diary describing his Operation Dodge flights in August 1945.

Service History (Fl. Lt. Fleming)

Pages from a Record of Service log book.

Photo (small)	Photo (large)	Description
		Record of Service covering the period September 1941-October 1945, showing aircraft flown. Levin, Harewood and Woodbourne are in New Zealand, the remainder of the locations in the UK. Photo courtesy of Tony Fleming (NZ). The small version of the picture is 70Kb, the large 605Kb.