were supplied by the relatives of the Airmen mentioned.

On the 20th of February 1945, a force of seventeen Lancasters were detailed to fly a night operation to attack the German city of  Dortmund.

F/O Bastick and crew were part of this force and they departed Fiskerton at 21.41. They  were never heard of again becoming listed

as "Failed To Return". Nothing is known about their fate neither the Lancaster or the crew were ever found.

The Germans, with their typical thoroughness,  were usually very reliable in informing the Red Cross of any aircrew remains which

were found using the "Dog" tags which aircrew wore and which listed their names and service numbers but no information was ever received.

If they reached their target and carried out their mission is not known. Most likely, they were shot down en-route to Dortmund, possibly over the

North Sea either by flak or night-fighter   when they would have had a full bomb and fuel load.  If this was the fate they suffered, both Lancaster and crew

would have disappeared in an instant. Another crew lost with the end of war only days away.

F/O Bastick and crew with Lancaster NF975 UL-J2. Crew  were:F/O Bastic, Sgt. F.Martin; F/Sgt W.Bibby; F/Sgt. J.Coates; Sgt. H.Sargent and Sgt. R.Swaffer.

Colour image supplied by John Ward, 49 Sqn Association.