Stories

All crews, and particularly pilots, had their own favourite aircraft. Even within a squadron some aircraft were known to perform better or have their own peculiar vices but once a crew had settled on their lucky one they were loath to swap it.

Aircrew and ground crew from 626 Sq.
(Credit: NZBCA Archives)

A few aircrews were lucky enough to sail through a tour without mishap. In RAF Bomber Command that was very rare especially until the end of 1944. Even then losses on daylight rates were high.

John Tarbuck captained his 626 Squadron Lancaster III through a full tour without mishap. “Perhaps it was because we only visited the Ruhr once, which was enough, but we did a lot of low level Ops around D-Day. Mother 2 (UM-M2 ME83O) became our allocated aircraft. It was a good plane, looked after very well by a great ground crew.”

“We brought it back untouched op after op except on a daylight run to Caen on 7 July 1944, when shrapnel from flak punched a hole through the astrodome. After 30 Ops I could sign off the Form 700 for a slightly worn Mk III Lancaster. So many others didn’t quite match that.”

626 Squadron line up, January 1944.
(Credit: RAF Bomber Command Crews and Aircraft Pictures)

After service with 626 Sq. at Wickenby, John’s ME 830 was transferred to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Bascombe Downs. It was eventually struck off charge 12 March 1948.

John Tarbuck in Kiwis Do Fly by Peter J Wheeler © New Zealand Bomber Command Association.