Page 8 - Derek Braithet Holland

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The crew’s first Main Force operation took place on the morning of the 27 September to the
French port of Calais as part of a contingent of 15 Lancasters from 576 Squadron. This operation,
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requested by the British army, was to assist in the capture of this port by the Canadian 7 and 8
Infantry Brigades.

This link takes you to a description of the battle

Port of Calais

The Lancaster allocated to the crew was one of Bomber Command's Centurions,
LM 227 I - ITEM2, the crew flying this Lancaster on 29 operations. I – ITEM2 completed 100 Main
Force operations and was one of four Centurions the Squadron had on charge. Only 35
Lancasters out of the 7,377 assembled ever exceeded 100 or more operations.

This link takes you to the history of LM2272

LM227 I-ITEM2

576 Squadron moved to RAF Fiskerton (4 miles east of Lincoln) on the 31 October. Fiskerton had
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been a No. 5 Group station but Bomber Command Headquarters decided to allocate this airfield
along with four other airfields at Scampton, Dunholme Lodge, Hemswell and its satellite airfield at
Ingham to No. 1 Group. RAF Scampton would be the Base station for Fiskerton, Dunholme Lodge
(2 miles south east of Scampton), Ingam (1 mile north of Scampton) and Hemswell (8 miles east
of Gainsbourgh). Scampton was renumbered 15 Base and became the main administrative centre
controlling these airfields. Fiskerton’s No. 5 Group resident unit. 49 Squadron having moved to
RAF Fulbeck (6 miles east of Newark on Trent).

The unit’s operating from these airfields were, RAF Hemswell: 150 and later, 170 Squadrons. RAF
Scampton 153 Squadron and No 1687 Bomber Defence Training Flight (1687 BDTF) which used
RAF Ingham, a grass airfield for training air gunners on detachment from No. 1 Groups Heavy
Conversion Units. RAF Dunholme Lodge initially had 170 Squadron operating from the airfield, but
safety concerns over the airfields close proximity to Scampton resulted in 170 Squadron moving to
Hemswell at the end of November. Dunholme therefore being under the control of the General
Aircraft Company which stored and modified assault gliders, principally the Hemilcar glider in
preparation for the allied airborne crossing of the River Rhine in March 1945 (Operation Varsity).