Halifax LK765 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.

On 5th August 1944 a number of 432 and 415 Squadron aircraft were tasked with attacking rocket launch sites at St.Leu D'Esserant. A number of these aircraft sustained minor flak, this aircraft was it in the aircraft's tail. The crew were able to land safely at East Moor airfield. Although damage was not serious it never flew an operational flight again. This crew were also flying Halifax LW686 on 7th/8th August 1944 when it overshot a landing at East Moor and ended up in the Strensall Road Ditch.

Pilot - F/Lt H E Barnes RCAF.

Flight Engineer - Sgt J Rome

Navigator - F/O J Moulden.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Wesley A MacLeod RCAF, later F/O (J/90866).

WOp/AG - W/O J Dubois.

AG - Sgt L Ballantyne.

AG - Sgt S Bayerle.

F/Lt Barnes flew thirty two operational flights with 415 Squadron between 1st August and 18th November 1944. He was the pilot of Halifax LW686 which overshot on landing at East Moor on 8th August 1944 which wrote off the aircraft.
Wesley MacLeod was later commissioned and completed thirty two operational flights, he was awarded the DFC for service with 415 Squadron. I thank Mr James Weatherdon, son-in-law of Wesley MacLeod for his contact and the extra information he was able to provide this account. Wesley was born in Kinross, Prince Edward Island in 1917 where he was working as a teacher until he enlisted in Ottawa in May 1942 and was commission in September 1944. His DFC appeared in the London Gazette on 27th March 1945. Research by Hugh Halliday has found the recommendation for the award and this reads..

"Warrant Officer MacLeod has completed a notable tour during which he has taken part in several attacks on the most heavily defended enemy targets including Kiel, Wanne Eickel, Essen and Cologne. He is a most determined and gallant member of aircraft crew and his successes are an excellent testimony to the accuracy of his bombing. His conduct at all times has been exemplary." The DFC was presented to him on 4th September 1945 and his Tour was carried out between 1st August 1944 and 18th November 1944, flying thirty two operational flights lasting just short of 160 hours flying time.

A wireless operator, P/O Joseph Edward Lawrence Dubois RCAF (J/88326) was lost on 17th December 1944 when Halifax MZ538 of 425 Squadron crashed near Alne, Yorkshire shortly after take off for ops to Duisburg. He is buried in Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. Again, he could well be the same man.
Halifax LK765 was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd at Stockport and was awaiting collection on 16th February 1944. It was issued to 432 Squadron at East Moor in March 1944 as a replacement for LK761 which had crashed on 16th February 1944. LK765 commenced ops with 432 Squadron on 18th March 1944 and completed 36 ops with the last being on 7th July 1944 before it was transferred to 415 Squadron also based at East Moor on 15th July 1944 and it commenced ops with 415 Squadron on 28th July 1944. This flak incident detailed above took place on it's fourth operational flight. It sustained Cat.A(c)/FB, and was deemed repairable on site but because of the availability of a newer aircraft it was replaced immediately by MZ633. On completion of repairs, on an unknown date, it was transferred to 1666 HCU at Wombleton in late 1944. It's final user was 1664 HCU at Dishforth. This unit disbanded on 6th April 1945 and the aircraft was flown into long term storage at Clifton where it remained until struck off charge as scrap on 21st December 1946 and was broken up.