Halifax damaged by FLAK / returned to East Moor.

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

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 Sqdn at East Moor in March 1944 as a replacement for LK761 which had crashed on 16th February 1944. LK765 commenced ops with 432 Sqdn on 18th March 1944 and completed 36 ops with the last being on 7th July 1944 before it was transferred to 415 Sqdn also based at East Moor on 15th July 1944 and it commenced ops with 415 Sqdn on 28th July 1944. This flak incident detailed above took place on it's 4th op. 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 as yet unspecified 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.

Pilot - F/Lt H E Barnes RCAF.

FEng - Sgt J Rome,

Nav - F/O J Moulden,

AB - Sgt W McLeod,

WOp/AG - W/O J Dubois,

AG - Sgt L Ballantyne,

AG - Sgt S Bayerle.