Page 4 - Edward 'Ted' Cachart

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2 /3 January, 1944; BERLIN
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Every available person on the station gave a hand in clearing the snow ready for the evening's
operation. Take-offs were able to begin 15 minutes before midnight with Fiskerton managing to get
12 aircraft airborne from the 13 detailed.
Just 311 bombers struggled to reach a cloud-covered Berlin where the bombing was spread, with
no concentrated fires developing. The German controllers had realized the bombers target in
advance and instructed the night-fighters accordingly; most of the 27 Lancasters lost, fell in the
Berlin area.

Canadian skipper Flying Officer Johnny Young (JB231) and crew in N-Nan were in the last wave
and on approaching the final turning point before the target were made well aware of the presence
of night fighters by the lanes of flares in the sky. For the first time, the ‘Fishpond’ radar screen was
functioning well and Ted Cachart the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner reported a large number of
‘blips’ reflected from the aircraft below them, a number of these were heading in the direction of
the final turning point but with the majority heading towards the target.

They were skimming through hazy cloud and the pilot had just lowered the starboard wing when in
a split second they saw another Lancaster heading straight towards them and before anyone
could yell a warning, the on-coming Lancasters cockpit struck their aircraft's starboard wing
between the two engines.

It is just possible that Flight Lieutenant Palmer’s S - Sugar was the Lancaster that was in collision
with N - NAN as it would have been in the same wave, and if slightly ahead of Nan it would have
changed course and be heading back across the track of the oncoming tail-enders.

Avro Lancaster JB231 - EA-N

Flying Officer J.E.M. Young - R.C.A.F – Pilot - P.o.W.

Sergeant A.W. Vidow - Flight Engineer - P.o.W.

Flying Officer J. Scott - R.C.A.F - Navigator - P.o.W.

Sergeant E.B. Cachart - Wireless Operator/Air Gunner - P.o.W.

Sergeant M. Mahoney - R.C.A.F - Mid Upper Gunner - P.o.W.

Pilot Officer L.M. Orchard - Air Bombardier - P.o.W.

Sergeant L. Crossman - Rear Gunner - P.o.W.

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This crew were on their 8 operation