This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Thursday 2 November 1944 |
| Time: | 16:55 |
| Type: |  Avro Lancaster Mk III |
| Owner/operator: | 156 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | PB486 |
| MSN: | GT-? |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RAF Upwood, Huntingdonshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Upwood, Cambridgeshire |
Undercarriage prematurely retracted on take-off for mission to Dusseldorf & DBR.
Crew:-
Pilot : Squadron Leader Alfred William Gordon Cochrane DFC & 2 Bars RNZAF NZ/403429
Crew : Pilot Officer J Aaron RAF (NCO:1035765)
Crew : Squadron Leader Dudley Farquhar Allen GM BEM RAFVR (NCO:960369)
Crew : Flying Officer James Robert Burns RAF 128393 (NCO:1319129 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 06 October, 1942)
Crew : Pilot Officer G K Dee RNZAF
Crew : Flight Sergeant L P Howell RAF
Crew : Flight Lieutenant R F Jenkins DFC RAF
Crew : Flying Officer E Jenner RAF
There is a story which might account for this incident. A new flight engineer was keen but green and was hanging on the pilot's every word, eager not to miss a word of command. The pilot had the habit of talking to both himself and the aeroplane, and often muttered exhortations to the aircraft, the crew being used to this. As speed was mounting on take-off, the pilot muttered "Come on, come on, faster, faster" and at the crucial moment, declared "Up, up, you bastard!" The engineer immediately reached down and pulled up the undercarriage and the Lancaster went skidding down the remaining length of the runway on its belly. At the resulting enquiry, the embarrassed engineer said "I thought it was rude of the pilot to speak to me like that, but acted on his instructions."
Whether this story is a hangar myth or not, I don't know, but if it isn't true, it ought to be!
S/L Allen's GM Gazetted (as Sgt) 21st January 1941. The citation reads "In September, 1940, this airman was the turret gunner of an aircraft which crashed in dense mist. He was dazed by a heavy blow on the head, and his parachute harness was entangled in the seat. In spite of the fact that the aircraft was on fire he proceeded with great energy and resolution to extricate the unconscious bodies of three of the crew at the risk of his own life. Undeterred by the increasing intensity of the heat and fumes from the burning wreckage, and amid exploding ammunition, he tried to find the pilot, but was unsuccessful. He then removed the unconscious men to a safe distance. He was born in 1914, in Dublin, where his father still lives. He was educated at Skerries, Dublin, Drogheda Grammar School, and Rathmines School of Commerce. He was a commercial traveller before joining the R.A.F.V.R."
Sources:
Air-Britain Royal Air Force Aircraft PA100-RZ999
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/AlliedLossesIncidents/?q=PB486&qand=&exc1=&exc2=&search_only=&search_type=exact
Rob Davis Bomber Command Losses Database
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Aug-2013 14:21 | JINX | Added |
| 03-Nov-2018 09:49 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Operator, ] |
| 06-Sep-2021 12:45 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Cn, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, ] |
| 16-Jul-2023 21:44 | Nepa | Updated |
| 24-Aug-2024 06:39 | Rob Davis | Updated [Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation