Wellington FLAK damaged (but returned to East Moor).

On the 7th of July 1943 with aircraft was on a mine laying flight when it was hit by 'flak' from a flakship. Damage was caused to hydraulic jacks which operated bomb doors. The crew were unable to locate the target and returned safely to East Moor with the mines. Cat. A/FB damage was recorded

Wellington HF600 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd at Chester and delivered to MU for acceptance in June 1943 before being issued to 428 Sqdn at Middleton St.George in mid June 1943. It was then transferred to 429 Sqdn at East Moor during the last week of June 1943. Following the damage sustained above Cat. A/FB damage was recorded. It was repaired at East Moor which was completed by 24th July 1943. Whilst returning from Ops on 3rd August 1943 it suffered engine trouble and made emergency landing at Swanton Morley. Repairs were carried out on site their but on completion later in the month, the aircraft was not returned to it's unit, but transferred to 17 OTU at Silverstone. It was then destroyed in a Cat. E2/FA accident on 29th September 1943 when it dived into ground 1.5 miles West of Wappenham, Northants killing six.

Pilot - F/Lt B F N Rawson RCAF, ok.

Nav - F/O J W Kerr RCAF, ok.

AB - F/O I F McIntosh RCAF, ok.

WOp/AG - F/Sgt J(?) Smith RAF, ok.

AG - Sgt J S Jakeman RCAF, ok.