419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB866

Crew of Lancaster KB866

The seven man crew made up of P/O MacLaren, P/O Jones, P/O Livingston, F/O Wincott, F/O Loft, P/O Henderson and P/O Wightman were posted to 419 squadron from No.76 Base on March 12th 1945. The records are unclear as to how many operations they actually flew together, by this time the operations log only showed the pilot of the aircraft not the whole crew.
But now with the help of a relative of P/O Wightman this has been cleared up
From the comments in the log made after the crew and aircraft were lost it would appear that then F/S MacLaren had flown four operations, F/O Loft had also flown four operations then credits all the other members of the crew with 3 operations. It has now been confirmed that P/O Edgar Wightman did complete 3 operational missions. Also that the crew had flown a total of 41 times together, including OTU, HCU and with 419 squadron.
(Our Thanks to S. Wightman for contacting us and providing the addition information.)
The missions that can be found flown by MacLaren shown in the operations log were not without incident. On the night of April 8/9 on a raid over Hamburg, a wiring problem caused the bombs to be dropped in "Safe" mode. On the night of April 10th on route to Leipzig the rear gun turret developed problems and was out of action but they proceed on to the target without the protection provided by the rear gun. KB866, VR-M flew off on the night of April 13/14 on a mission to Kiel and was not heard of again. No mention of a Lancaster being attacked by night-fighters show in Luftwaffe records so there is no know reason or location known for KB866.
MacLaren was one of only three NCO pilots left in the squadron by April. There are long gaps in between sorties for most crews. The signs of the near ending of the air war must have been felt as April seems to be a time of everyone in the squadron was trying to get in on the war.
The crew of KB866 were the last airmen to be lost to 419 squadron. By May of '45 very few operations were being flown by the squadron.
Sadly, in another three weeks, May 9th, the squadron was making preparations to head home to Canada.

	Pilot Officer Gregory James Jones Rear Gunnerr Age 20 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Toronto Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial
	Pilot Officer Edgar Ross Wightman Air Gunner Age36 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Vancouver BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial P/O Wightman's Logbook
	Flying Officer Charles Robert Loft Bomb Aimer Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From London Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial
	Pilot Officer Gordon Archie Livingston F/E Age30 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Vancouver BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial
	Flying Officer Donald William Wincott Navigator Age21 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Port Colborne Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial
	Pilot Officer William Henderson Wireless Op. Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Cranbrook BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial
	Pilot Officer Colin Charles MacLaren Pilot Age31 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Kelona BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Crew of Lancaster KB866

Pilot Officer

Gregory James Jones

Rear Gunnerr Age 20 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Toronto Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Edgar Ross Wightman

Air Gunner Age36 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Vancouver BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flying Officer

Charles Robert Loft

Bomb Aimer Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From London Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Gordon Archie Livingston

F/E Age30 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Vancouver BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Flying Officer

Donald William Wincott

Navigator Age21 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Port Colborne Ontario Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

William Henderson

Wireless Op. Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Cranbrook BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Officer

Colin Charles MacLaren

Pilot Age31 Killed In Action April 14th 1945 From Kelona BC Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Rear Gunnerr Age 20
Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Toronto Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Air Gunner Age36 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Vancouver BC
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Bomb Aimer Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From London Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

F/E Age30 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Vancouver BC
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Navigator Age21 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Port Colborne Ontario
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Wireless Op. Age22 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Cranbrook BC
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial

Pilot Age31 Killed In Action April 14th 1945
From Kelona BC
Remembrance Runnymede Memorial