Halifax W7661 damaged by flak, returned to Croft airfield.
On the night of 5th / 6th June 1942 the crew of this 78 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to Essen and had left Croft at 23.08hrs, the crew bombed the target on the target indicators from 16,000 feet but the aircraft was damaged by flak. The flak damaged resulted in the IFF being cut in two and several holes in the aircraft were made. The crew made a safe return to base and landed at Croft at 04.31hrs.
Pilot - Acting F/Lt Victor Douglas Knox RAFVR (63842).
Air Gunner - Sgt E D Thorn.
Navigator - P/O J C Davidson RCAF (J/5307).
? - F/Sgt Johnston.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt David Kimber RAFVR (1280977).
Flight Engineer - F/Sgt G H Nicholson.
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie George Burden RAFVR (1180696).
Victor Knox was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 11th June 1943 while in the rank of Acting F/Lt while instructing at 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit. He received a Mention in Despatches on 8th June 1944.
Halifax W7661 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Croft on 16th April 1942. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 5th / 6th June 1942 minor Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Croft. On completion of the repair it was immediately transferred to 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George where it was coded "MP-D" but the date of transfer is not known. On 24th June 1942 it was destroyed following a head-on collision with Oxford V4140 of 1516 Beam Approach Training Flight while flying at 2,000 feet. Both aircraft crashed near the Middleton St.George airfield boundary. All six in the Halifax and also two in the Oxford died as a result of the accident. The Halifax was struck off charge on 28th June 1942.
Sgt Kimber was still serving with 78 Squadron on the night of 11th / 12th August 1942 when he failed to return from Ops in Halifax W1115. He was made a PoW.
Many of this crew were posted to 76 Squadron soon after this incident and then with the 76 Squadron group that went to North Africa to eventually form 462 Squadron.