Flying Fortress "Lucky Strike" Crew and Emergency Services

With one of its bombs still on board, "Lucky Strike" was returning from a raid on the submarine pens at Kiel, Germany on 5 January 1944. The twist of a screwdriver not only dislodged the stuck bomb but 410 gallons of auxiliary fuel. The crew began the trip home knowing they did not have enough fuel for the return journey, and anything that could be thrown out of the aircraft was jettisoned. As the aircraft dropped in altitude, frost began to build up and even the windshield and instruments iced over. "Lucky Strike" crashed on land at Church Farm, Cawston, narrowly missing the church. Two of the crew died.

Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.

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We don't yet have crew details for this memorial. Do you know who served aboard this aircraft?

Family connections, service records, or details from the memorial inscription would help us honour these crew members by name.