Halifax damaged by fighters (possibly returned to East Moor airfield).
On the 23rd of October 1942 this aircraft was taking part on a raid on Genoa when
it was attacked by cannon fire from two unidentified aircraft,
a return to the UK was made but this may have not infact been to East Moor. 158 Sqdn aircraft had been flown to
airfield further south for this raid due to the distance to Genoa. They set out from this forward base.
The aircraft was built to contact B982938/39 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered directly to 158 Sqdn at East Moor
during the last week of September 1942. It suffered Cat. A(c)/FB following this incident and was repaired on site. It moved with unit
to Rufforth on 6th November 1942 and on an as yet unspecified date in 1943 it was transferred to 1652 HCU at Marston Moor. In
1944 it moved to 1662 HCU at Blyton where is ended it's days before being struck off charge on 18th July 1944 as time expired.
Pilot - Sgt Maynard M Caplan RAFVR (142555), of Bromley, Kent.
2nd Pilot - Sgt Sydney H J White RAFVR (138691).
FEng - Sgt Arthur A Frederick RAF (51678), of Chatham, Kent.
Nav - Sgt Alfred G Fleet RAFVR (142563), of Bradford Moor, Yorkshire.
BA - Sgt James R Laws RCAF (Late J/16669 DFC & Bar), of Parkhill, Ontario, Canada.
WOp/AG - Sgt John C Stait
AG - Sgt A Corpe
RG - Sgt Arthur N Daubon. Injured in the attack.
F/O Caplan DFM was killed on 7th September 1943 when Halifax DT524, of 1658 HCU crashed at Howden, Yorkshire. he is
buried at East Ham (Marlow Road) Jewish Cemetery.)
P/O White was lost when Halifax DT681 on 21st January 1943 when he failed to return on Ops to Lorient. His aircraft crashed
in France although his body was never found and he is commemerated on the Runnymede Memorial.
F/O Fleet was lost when Mosquito LR477 crashed at Contract Farm, Narborough near Swaffham, Norfolk, on return from Ops to
Leverkusen on 23rd November 1943. He is buried in Bradford (Bowling) Cemetery.)
F/O A Frederick was lost on 13th September 1944 when Halifax MZ912 failed to return from Ops to Gelsenkirchen, crashing at Bottrop.
""Pilot Officer Laws has taken part in a large number of operational sorties against some of the enemy's most heavily
defended targets including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Turin, Genoa, Stettin, Cologne, Essen and Dortmund. Undoubtedly the excellent
results obtained by his crew were largely due to the skill and determination of this officer to press his attacks home regardless
of the heaviest enemy opposition. As assistant bombing leader the high standard of efficiency of the bomb aimers in the squadron is
directly attributable to the untiring efforts and enthusiasm of Pilot Officer Laws.""
Later in the War he was posted to 640 Sqdn where he gained the Bar to the DFC on 5th April 1945 (presented 28th May 1947). The Citation reads...
""Flight Lieutenant Laws has now completed a second tour of operations which has included attacks against such major targets as
Magdeburg, Duisburg, Essen and Hamburg and others in support of our front line troops. At all times he has shown a fine fighting
spirit and the utmost courage and determination in the face of enemy opposition. During a daylight attack against Munster
in September 1944, the aircraft in which he was flying was hit by anti-aircraft fire. One engine failed and shell fragments
penetrated the bomb aimer's compartment. Undeterred, Flight Lieutenant Laws bombed the target with cool determination which
earned him the admiration and confidence of all his crew.""
This was the last battle damaged aircraft returning home to East Moor of 1942, 158 Sqdn moved out to Rufforth at the end of October 1942 and
429 Sqdn formed at East Moor upon their departure. Bad weather and training meant the new squadron carried out no operational raids at the end of 1942, their first
being in January 1943.
Sgt James Laws RCAF survived the War and gained the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar; the first was whilst serving
with 158 Squadron (award effective 6th August 1943). He was born in Parkhill, Ontario in 1918 and prior to enlisting his home was in Sarnia where he worked as a lab assistant. He
enlisted in London, Ontario 18th December 1940 and he had formerly been in Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned November 1942.
He was Invested with the DFC at Buckingham Palace on 7th November 1944. The Citation reads...