The only known photograph of Lancaster PB366
The FIDO (Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation) system was in use during take off to disperse the heavy fog.
Avro Lancasters at RAF Graveley in 1946
RAF Graveley
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The Great Paxton Lancaster MemorialThe memorial to the crew of Avro Lancaster PB366 which crashed on the outskirts of Great Paxton on Christmas Eve 1944 is located in the churchyard of The Church of the Holy Trinity. (PE196RJ) The Lancaster and crew of seven had taken off from nearby RAF Graveley on a foggy December afternoon destined for a raid of the Nippes railway yard in Cologne. The fully-laden aircraft failed to gain height, clipping trees at the top of the village and a house in London Lane before finally coming down in a field near to what is now Brookside. The entire crew, with an average age of 22, died in the crash despite attempts by villagers to help. The crew who died were: Pilot F/O Arthur Kenyon 23 Navigator Sgt Albert Thomas 23 Bomb-aimer Flt Sgt Alec Cousins 21 Wireless operator Flt Sgt Cecil Blundell 20 Air gunner Sgt Cyril Winter 23 Air gunner Sgt Roy Yallop 24 Flight engineer Sgt Leonard Williams 23 The memorial, which was unveiled on 7th May 2022, was funded by donations from far and wide including local residents, crew family members, local businesses and a Just Giving appeal. The village was honoured that crew family members attended the ceremony and participated in the unveiling. The dedication service and unveiling of the memorial can be seen in the following video. Further information about Lancaster PB366 and her crew can be found by using the following links:
https://35squadron.wordpress.com/2017/07/23/lancaster-pb366-24121944/ http://aircrewremembered.com/kenyon-arthur.html |
