Avro Lancaster JB477
0.5 miles away
Cambridgeshire
Yelling Lancaster Memorial
Yelling, Cambridgeshire
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
It is maintained by Yelling Parish Council.
Type
Memorial stone
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Yelling, Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire
what3words: ///jingles.steadier.factoring
OS Grid Ref: TL2563
What Happened
Flying Officer McLennan's crew departed Gransden Lodge aboard Lancaster JB477 on a bombing mission to Berlin, part of the operation later known as "Black Thursday." Strong headwinds and severe weather on the return leg consumed the aircraft's fuel before it could reach safety. The Lancaster came down near Yelling, Cambridgeshire, on 17 December 1943. Six crew members were killed, among them Sergeant Gordon Raymond Schneider, Flying Officer Walter Fitzgerald Sheppard, and Sergeant Eric Halliwell. The sole survivor was rear gunner Warrant Officer S.C.H. Nutting, who held the Distinguished Flying Medal.
Community Connection
The Avro Lancaster JB477 memorial was created and shared by Clive Regis and Richard E. The Yelling villagers' involvement in maintaining the site highlights a strong community connection to this World War II memorial.
Remembrance
Visit to RAF Bourn
A visit to the current small airfield on the former RAF Bourn, which was built in 1940/41 and served as a bomber station during WW2. It was initially a satellite for nearby RAF Oakington but later became a bomber station under Air Commodore Donald Bennetts' 8 Group operating the Pathfinder Force (PFF). The airfield accommodated 1,805 males and 276 females and had three A style concrete runways. By the end of the war, Bourn squadrons would lose 135 aircraft in total.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
JB477
Squadron
405 SquadronStation
Gransden Lodge
Date of Loss
1943-12-17
Operation Type
Operational
Target
Bombing mission to Berlin (Black Thursday)
Cause of Loss
Ran out of fuel returning from Berlin due to bad weather and strong headwinds
Crew (9 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Yelling Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
St Neots Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Yelling Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23
IWM War Memorials Register entry for the Lancaster JB477 memorial at Yelling. Commemorates the crew of 405 Squadron RCAF Lancaster that crashed on 17 December 1943 returning from a Berlin bombing raid after running out of fuel.
What you'll find: Explore IWM War Memorials Register entry for Lancaster JB477 memorial at Yelling, honoring fallen crew members of 405 Squadron RCAF in tragic crash on Dec 17, 1943.
IWM reference number 8410405 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force memorial
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Online entry for the crash site of Lancaster Bomber JB477 at Yelling, Cambridgeshire. Records the memorial stone erected at the crash site near OS Grid Reference TL 260 620.
What you'll find: The poignant Lancaster Bomber JB477 Memorial Stone at Yelling, Cambridgeshire.
Memorial stone at crash siteOS Grid Reference TL 260 620
RAF Pathfinders ArchiveRetrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed account of the McLennan crew and 'Black Thursday' on 17 December 1943. Lancaster JB477 LQ-O of 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, part of the Pathfinder Force, ran out of fuel returning from Berlin in bad weather. The rear gunner W/O Nutting DFM survived on what was his 45th operation.
What you'll find: Explore detailed account of McLennan crew's 'Black Thursday' mission on Lancaster JB477 LQ-O during WWII.
Part of 'Black Thursday' — multiple 405 Squadron losses on same nightTwo other 405 Sqn Lancasters (JB481 LQ-R and JB369 LQ-D) also crashed with fatalitiesW/O Nutting was on his 45th raid when he survived405 Squadron was part of the Pathfinder ForceAircraft designation was LQ-O
Aviation TrailsRetrieved 2026-03-23
Aviation Trails Southern Cambridgeshire trail includes the JB477 crash site at Yelling as part of a wider tour of WW2 aviation heritage in the region, providing visitor access information and historical context about RAF Gransden Lodge operations.
What you'll find: Explore WWII aviation heritage with visitor info on Yelling Lancaster Memorial's crash site.
Part of Southern Cambridgeshire aviation heritage trailProvides visitor access guidance
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
RAF Pathfinders Archive (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Trails (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Cambridgeshire (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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