Updated 08 Jul 2006

Bomber Command Navigator's logbook 1942-46

My father was a navigator flying Lancaster bombers during WW2. There were approximately 75,000 aircrew in Bomber Command throughout 1939/45 and of these some 55,000 lost their lives.  I have given below a very brief summary of his logbook entries. I would like to thank my colleague, John Palmer, who kindly scanned the logbook pages and then produced a CD containing the scanned images and other detailed information. I have based the summary below on the contents of his CD. John runs a major genealogical website on www.wirksworth.org.uk

Date Training/OPERATIONS Type   26 Apr 1942 Posted to No1 AOS MALTON near Toronto, Ontario, Canada   Air Observers Navigation Course Anson Dec 1942 Posted to No.29 OTU near North Luffenham, Leics, UK   Various  training sorties Wellington 01 Apr 1943 Posted to 1661 Conversion Unit at Winthorpe, Lincs   Various sorties Manchester Lancaster 26 Apr 1943 Posted to 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron at Waddington then Dunholme Lodge, Lincs Operational posting. Various sorties and the following operational missions:   26 Apr 1943 DUISBERG Lancaster 12 May 1943 DUISBERG Lancaster 23 May 1943 DORTMUND Lancaster 25 May 1943 DUSSELDORF Lancaster 27 May 1943 ESSEN Lancaster 29 May 1943 WUPPERTAL Lancaster 11 Jun 1943 DUSSELDORF Lancaster 12 Jun 1943 BOCHUM Lancaster 14 Jun 1943 OBERHAUSEN Lancaster 16 Jun 1943 COLOGNE Lancaster 21 Jun 1943 KREFELD Lancaster 03 Jul 1943 COLOGNE (aborted) Lancaster 08 Jul 1943 COLOGNE Lancaster 09 Jul 1943 GELSENKIRCHEN Lancaster 12 Jul  1943 TURIN Lancaster 16 Jul 1943 REGGIO Lancaster 24 Jul 1943 LEGHORN Lancaster 29 Jul 1943 HAMBURG Lancaster 12 Aug 1943 HAMBURG Lancaster 22 Aug 1943 LEVERKUSEN Lancaster 23 Aug 1943 BERLIN Lancaster 27 Aug 1943 NUREMBURG Lancaster 03 Sep 1943 BERLIN Lancaster 06 Sep 1943 MUNICH Lancaster 23 Sep 1943 MANNHEIM Lancaster 18 Oct 1943 HANNOVER Lancaster 04 Nov 1943 DUSSELDORF Lancaster Nov 1943 Posted to 630 Squadron at East Kirkby, Lincs Operational posting. Various sorties and the following operational missions: 18 Nov 1943 BERLIN Lancaster 22 Nov 1943 BERLIN Lancaster 23 Nov 1943 BERLIN Lancaster   End of 1st Tour 20 Dec 1943 Posted to 12 OTU at Edge Hill, Warwick   Screening (training) navigators Wellington Oxford Halifax Lancaster Dec 1944 Posted to 1656 Conversion Unit at Lindholme, Yorks   08 Jan 1945 Posted to 625 Squadron at Kelstern then Scampton, Lincs08 Jan 1945 Operational posting. Various sorties and the following operational missions:   14 Jan 1945 MERSEBURG Lancaster 16 Jan 1945 ZEITZ Lancaster 08 Feb 1945 POLITZ Lancaster 13 Feb 1945 DRESDEN (aborted) Lancaster 14 Feb 1945 CHEMNITZ Lancaster 21 Feb 1945 DUISBERG Lancaster 01 Mar 1945 MANNHEIM Lancaster 02 Mar 1945 COLOGNE Lancaster 05 Mar 1945 CHEMNITZ Lancaster 23 Mar 1945 BREMEN Lancaster 27 Mar 1945 PADERBORN Lancaster 31 Mar 1945 HAMBURG Lancaster 03 Apr 1945 NORDHAUSEN Lancaster 09 Apr 1945 KIEL HARBOUR (Mine laying) Lancaster 13 Apr 1945 KIEL HARBOUR (Mine laying) Lancaster 14 Apr 1945 POTSDAM Lancaster 18 Apr 1945 HELIGOLAND Lancaster 23 Apr 1945 BREMEN Lancaster 01 May 1945 ROTTERDAM (Food drop) Lancaster May 1945 End of 2nd Tour May 1945 Posted to 78 Squadron at Breighton, Yorks May 1945 Posted to 1333 TSCU at Leicester East (Leics) then Syerston, Notts 20 Jun 1945 Various sorties Oxford Dakota Date Training/OPERATIONS Type