On the night of 6th / 7th July 1942 the crew of this aircraft were tasked with a mine laying flight and left Breighton at 22.22hrs. The mines were dropped from 800 feet but the aircraft was hit by flak in the wing in the region of the starboard flap. A safe return to base at 06.17hrs.
Pilot - Sgt William R Martin RAAF (404837), of Kairi, Queensland, Australia.
Navigator - Sgt Ian R Richardson RAAF (401246),
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald T Lonsdale RAAF (403273), of Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt A E Macrae?
Rear Gunner - Sgt Reginald G Cox RAAF (402589), of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
William Martin was born on 6th January 1921 in Atherton, Queensland and enlisted in Brisbane on 6th December 1940, he was involved in farming at the time of enlisting. He was awarded the Wings on 25th September 1941 and on arrival in the UK was posted to 27 OTU on 18th November 1941 before posting to 20 OTU on 4th May 1942 and posting to 460 Squadron on 20th June 1942. He later transferred to 466 Squadron on 14th December 1942. On 14th/15th February 1943 he was flying in Wellington HE153 on Ops to Cologne, on the return to the UK the aircraft crashed at Warter Priory near Pocklington, Yorkshire. Sadly one of the crew died and he and the others on board sustained serious injuries. He was initially treated at York Military Hospital before transfer to Rauceby. He returned to operational flying after release from hospital and later received his commission on 24th April 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. For service with 466 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on. The citation reads..
"Throughout his operational career, P/O Martin has displayed impressive courage and quiet determination. He has efficiently attacked a wide variety of enemy targets and flown on mine-laying operations. Although seriously injured in a crash, upon his recovery this officer resumed operational flying with undiminished enthusiasm and has since taken part in sorties against many heavily defenced objectives in the Ruhr area. At all times his conduct has been highly commendable."
He was posted to instruct at 27 OTU on 13th July 1943 and rose to F/O on 24th October 1943 but was posted back to Australia before the end of the War and discharged on 3rd July 1945.
Ian Richardson was born on 26th December 1915 in Preston, Victoria and enlisted in Melbourne. He was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 14th May 1943 for service with 460 Squadron but not presented until 14th March 1944 at Buckingham Palace. He was later awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 6th June 1944.
Ronald Lonsdale was born on 13th September 1915 at Hurlstone Park, New South Wales, he enlisted on 5th January 1941 in Sydney and was working as an insurance clerk at the time. After training in Canada he arrived in the UK and was posted to 27 OTU on arrival in the UK on 14th January 1942 followed by a spell at 20 OTU from 4th May 1942 before posting to 460 Squadron on 20th June 1942. There is no record of his converting to fly Lancasters from Wellingtons on his service records but this must have occured, probably with 1656 CU as was common with 460 Squadron aircrew
On 4th January 1945 F/Sgt Lonsdale was flying in Lancaster W4274 on Ops to Essen. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Hatert, Nijmegen, Holland. He was twenty seven years old and is buried in Uden War Cemetery, Holland.
Robert Cox was born on 31st May 1915 in Kogarah, new South Wales and enlisted in Sydney. F/Sgt Cox was killed on 22nd September 1942 while converting to fly in the four engined heavy bombers. He was the rear gunner of Halifax W1272 that crashed near Catterton, Tadcaster, Yorkshire with the loss of the four crew. He is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire and was twenty seven years old.