Lancaster LL719 hit by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.

In the evening of the 27th of January 1944 fifteen 432 Squadron Lancasters set out from East Moor to take part in the raid on Berlin. This aircraft was struck by flak but damage was very minor and the pilot was able to make a return to East Moor in the early hours of the 28th January where the damage was soon repaired. It was flown again by this same crew on a raid the following night.

Pilot - F/Sgt William C A Pay RAFVR (1321761), of Fulham, London.

Flight Engineer - Sgt S Carr

Navigator - P/O John R Baker RAFVR (171619), of Belston, Staffordshire.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt G Armstrong

WOp/AG - Sgt J Bell

RG - Sgt John McC Houston RAFVR (1823044), of Kilmarrock, Ayrshire.

MUG - Sgt A King

William Pay was born in London 1922. He received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 31st January 1944, rising to F/O (war subs) on 31st July 1944. For service with 432 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 21st April 1944, the citation reads..

"This officer is a skilful and courageous pilot whose keenness and determination have been inspiring. He has completed a very large number of sorties, most of which have been against heavily defended targets such as Berlin, Hanover, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. His achievements have been noteworthy."

The recommendation for the DFC as located by Hugh Halliday is more detailed, dated 16th March 1944 when he had flown thirty operational sorties (183 hours flying), this reads..

"This officer has shown remarkable skill as a pilot and as an inspiring example of courage and determination to his crew. On his 30 operational sorties he failed to bomb his target only once and that was due to engine trouble. The majority of these trips have been over heavily defended targets in Germany, six of them being on Berlin, and others on such as Hanover, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Stettin and Stuttgart. His quiet confidence, which has inspired a high standard or morale in his crew, and his cooperation, coolness and devotion to duty warrant a strong recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

John Baker was born in Cosley, Staffordshire in 1923. He received his commission on 23rd January 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O (war subs) on 23rd July 1944. he survived the War and transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 3rd December 1945. He too was awarded the DFC for service with 432 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th June 1944. Again the recommendation was much more detailed than the very vague official citation, this recommendation dated 16th March 1944 when he had flown twenty eight operational flights (173 hours flying) reads..

"This officer has shown exceptional navigational ability throughout his tour, consisting of 28 operational sorties, many of which were over main objectives in Germany. His quiet confidence, which has inspired a high standard of morale in his crew, and his cooperation, courage and devotion to duty warrant a strong recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

John Houston was born in Ayrshire in 1923 and enlisted in 1923. He received his commission on 2nd April 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O (War subs) on 2nd October 1944 and F/Lt (war subs) on 28th March 1946. He too was awarded the DFC for service with 432 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st August 1944. The citation reads..

"As rear gunner this officer has completed a large number of sorties including nine attacks on Berlin. He is a confident and determined member of aircraft crew whose skill and cooperation have contributed materially to the successes obtained. He has set a fine example."

Once again the recommendation (as sourced by Hugh Halliday) is much more detailed, dated 22nd June 1944 (having flown thirty four operational flights with 207 hours flying). This reads..

"This officer has made 34 trips as rear gunner, 20 over Germany, including Berlin (nine trips), Nuremburg, Augsburg, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhe, Essen, Schweinfurt, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Stettin, Magdeburg and Brunswick. His cooperation coolness, and devotion to duty contributed in a large measure to the success of these operations. His cheerful confidence and steadiness under all circumstances contributed immensely toward the safety of the aircraft, and resulted in a high standard of morale in his crew. On his last trips to complete the first tour on an operation against Sterkrade Holten in the Ruhr Valley, and aircraft in which he was detailed as rear gunner was attacked by a Junkers 88. This officer by his skilful direction of the evasive tactics and accurate shooting, permitted his aircraft to come out unscathed with the enemy aircraft disappearing in a damaged condition. Foe his keenness, devotion to duty and high standard of technical ability this officer is strongly recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Lancaster LL719 was built to contract ACFT/239 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and delivered to 432 Squadron at East Moor in mid-January 1944. It suffered Cat.A/FB in the incident detailed above and was repaired on site. It later transferred to 408 Squadron and was coded "EQ-V" at Linton-on-Ouse on 8th February 1944. It was lost Cat.E(m) on 20th February 1944 whilst on Ops to Leipzig when it crashed at an unknown location on the French/German border. Seven were killed, three are buried in Germany and four in France. The aircraft completed four Ops with 432 Squadron before tranfer to 408 Squadron and its tally of Ops with 408 Squadron is not yet known.