The crew of G George, (W4783) a Mk I Lancaster flown by No. 460 Squadron RAAF, beside their ...

Accession Number P03173.004
Collection type Photograph
Object type 4x5", Black & white, Landscape, Polyester, Silver Gelatin
Physical description 4x5", Black & white, Landscape, Polyester, Silver Gelatin
Maker Keystone Press Agency
Place made United Kingdom: England, Lincolnshire, Binbrook
Date made 26 June 1943
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

The crew of G George, (W4783) a Mk I Lancaster flown by No. 460 Squadron RAAF, beside their aircraft after returning from a bombing raid on Gelsenkirchen in Germany. The aircraft left Binbrook RAF Station at 2333 hours on 25 June 1943 and returned at 0416 hours the next morning. The bomb load for this raid included one 400 pound bomb, two 500 pound TD .025 bombs, one 500 pound MCLD (72 hours) bomb, forty eight 30 pound incendiaries and thirty 4 pound incendiaries. The target was attacked at 0152 hours from 16,000 feet on the estimated position, as the red and green marker flares had been extinguished. On this raid G George was flown by Flying Officer J. R. Henderson RAAF,(third from left) who subsequently completed two operational tours, was promoted to Squadron Leader and awarded the DSO and DFC. The navigator was Sergeant (Sgt) M. R. Whitehouse RAF (climbing down ladder) who survived the war. The rest of the crew, left to right, are Sgt Leonard W. Dorricott RAF, bomb aimer of Shropshire, England, who survived the war; Sgt Denny A. Page RAF, Mid Upper Gunner, of London, England; Henderson; Sgt A. E. (Tony) Perron RCAF, Rear Gunner; Whitehouse; Sgt Jimmy V. Joyce RAF, Wireless Operator of London, England; Sgt D.'Jock' Easton RAF, Engineer of Scotland. Joyce and Easton were both killed flying in W4987 with No. 460 Squadron over Hamburg on 25 July 1943 when their Lancaster crashed near Cuxhaven, where they were buried until they were both re-buried in the Becklingen War Cemetery. Sgt D. Easton, may be 1127456 Sgt David Easton RAF, who was killed flying with No. 61 Squadron RAF on 18 August 1943. Sgt D. A. Page, may be 1336423 Sgt D. A. Page RAF, who was killed flying with No. 50 Squadron RAF on 28 August 1943. G George went on to fly 90 operational missions over Germany and Europe before it was retired from operations and flown to Australia in 1944. G George is now a treasured relic in the collection of the Australian War Memorial.