Many thanks to Sgt Turtons Grandson, Chris Turton for kindly allowing the website to show his Grandfathers RAF service with 576 Squadron.

Crew of 576 Sqn Flt/Lt Drew and Groundcrew front row of picture. Sgt Turton to left rear row. This Lancaster is PB753 X-Xray 2 , a "B" Flight lancaster with 43 Operations to her credit, Flt/Lt drew and crew did 10 Operations in her.

X-Xray History

RAF Form 78. This document is the Lancaster's" Log Book". Initially allocated to 170 Sqn on 4 Nov 1944, then transferred to 576 Sqn. Classified Category "E" on 13 Oct 1945 following a 2nd accident the air frame was Struck off Charge and scrapped on 22 Oct 1945.The maintenance unit this Lancaster was sent to is unknown, records are incomplete.

Left page.These pages from Sgt Turtons Log book show the crew did an "X country" flight fully loaded with a 12,000LB Bomb Load. This exercise familiarizes the pilot to a full operational bomb load. landing with this weight would have caused damage to the undercarriage , so it is likely the bomb load were concrete filled practice Bombs and the load would have been released over a Bombing range, the nearest range to Fiskerton being Donna Nook , south of Skegness, still in use today.

Right hand page showing the crews first three operations.

Left Hand page of Sgt Turton,s Log Book showing Operation Manna missions.

Right Hand page of Log Book.

The crews pilot,F/O Drew was screened on the 4th may 1945 following the crews 19th Operation to Valkenburg airfield in the Hague as part of Operation Manna. This Operation delivered food supplies to the starving Dutch population. F/O Drew had completed 2 tours of operations totaling some 60 missions.The crew were then allocated a new pilot, Warrant Officer Hobart. With this Pilot the crew did 3 training flights and were then allocated another new Pilot F/O Simpson, with him they completed their 20th and final operation on 26th May 1945, the transportation of liberated prisoners of War back to the UK as part of Operation Exodus.The crews Lancaster , carrying the P.O.W,s landed at RAF Oakley in Buckingham.

Left Hand page showing 20th Operation with F/O Simpson.

Right Hand page of Log Book.

After the end of hostilities in Europe, orders were received at RAF Oakley on 2 May 1945 that 300 repatriated prisoners of war were arriving by air at 11:00. All arrangements were made for their reception, and the provision of refreshments laid on in the Social Club. The arrival was, in fact, postponed to later in the day. Seven Dakotas landed with repatriated POWs on the following day and more throughout the month, until by the end of April, 72 Dakotas had brought 1,787 PoWs. Operation EXODUS was in full swing and May 1945 was even busier with 443 Avro Lancasters, 103 Dakotas, 51 Halifaxes, 31 B-24 Liberators, 3 Stirlings, 3 Hudsons, and 2 Flying Fortresses bringing 15,088 personnel. The airfield will be remembered by many a prisoner of war who, after release from the Continent, first stood upon the soil of freedom as he stepped on to Oakley. (courtesy Wikipedia)

The crew, piloted by F/O Simpson took part in Operation Post Mortem. This mission was flown by many Bomber Command Sqn,s. It required the crews to fly at operational height towards the Continent (Flensburg) in a simulated Main Force attack whilst specalist radar crew tracked the Bomber stream using captured German Radar equipment, the purpose being to check the radars efficiency and to allow Bomber command to try out defense tactics.

Operation Dodge was the return to the UK of Prisoners of War held by the Japanese. Initially flown into Italy by the Americans, Bomber Command then took over this , one of the last and most rewarding operations carried out by the Command.

RAF Oakley, Buckinghamshire,present day image.( Courtesy Google Earth)