Fundraising Campaign Launched to Recover Remains of Last Dambusters Lancaster

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to recover the remains of Avro Lancaster NF920 “Easy Elsie” from the site where it crash landed during WW2.

The aircraft came to rest in a swamp near Projus, Sweden on October 29, 1944 after being struck by anti-aircraft fire while attempting to bomb the battleship Tirpitz as part of “Operation Obviate.” The crew escaped without serious injury and the machine’s remains were abandoned, remaining at the site until the present day.

The aircraft is said to be the last remaining example of the type from the famous Dambusters 617 Squadron, and the wreck is in jeopardy after being “ravaged by war, time, vandals and souvenir hunters.”

Those behind the endeavor hope to “bring ‘Easy Elsie’ home to the UK, and preserve her as an enduring memorial to all bomber aircrew lost on operations during WW2 as the last of her kind used by the famous 617 Sqn, and as a tribute to the bravery of her own crew on that last mission in nursing their crippled aircraft through mountainous terrain to a safe haven.”

The majority of the effort is reportedly self funded “but donations will go a long way to getting ‘Easy Elsie’ on her way to finishing her last mission.” Those wishing to contribute can do so here.

(via Meteor NF14 WS788 restoration project Photo: Богдан Митронов-Слоб… via Wikimedia Commons)