Wellington MS473 damaged by flak, returned to Leconfield airfield.
On the night of 26th / 27th April 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to attack Duisburg and left Leconfield at 00.21hrs. They bombed the target area from 13,000ft at 02.31hrs, on their return a flak burst close to the aircraft shattered the cockpit perspex while they were flying at 12.000ft in an area roughly over The Hague. They landed safely at 05.47hrs at Leconfield. This crew had only been posted in to 466 Squadron earlier in April 1943 and this was their third operational flight together which was their first over mainland Europe.
Pilot - Sgt Leonard Alexander McMorron RAAF (408588), of Dadswells Bridge, Victoria, Australia.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Robertson McEwen RAFVR (658014).
Navigator - Sgt Douglas Haigh Glasson RAAF (411695), of Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt C L Hook RAFVR (1315045).
Air Gunner - Sgt William John Woods RAAF (415002), of Victoria Park, Western Australia.
Leonard McMorron was born on 21st May 1917 in Stawell, Victoria and enlisted into the RAAF in Melbourne. He flew his first operational flight with 466 Squadron as a second pilot to F/Lt Morton on 11th April 1943 then he and his regular crew flew their first together on 17th April 1943 and then again on 22nd April 1943, dropping mines in both cases. He was awarded the DFC for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th November 1943. His parents were living in Dadswell's Bridge when he left for England and when he was awarded the DFC. He returned to Australia after the War.
William McEwen was awarded the DFM for service with 466 Squadron on 16th November 1943. He received a commission on 22nd December 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (171036). He was later promoted to F/O on 22nd June 1944 and F/Lt on 22nd December 1945.
Douglas Glasson was born on 10th January 1919 in Sydney, New South Wales and enlisted into the RAAF in Sydney. He too was awarded the DFC for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th November 1943.
William Woods was born on 28th July 1917 in Katanning, Western Australia and was the son of George and Kathleen Woods, who later lived in Mount Lawley, Western Australia. He later received a commission and was posted to 467 Squadron. On 19th/20th September 1944 he was killed flying Ops to Rheydt in Lancaster PB299, he was twenty seven years old and was initially buried locally but is now buried in Bergen Op Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands.
Wellington MS473 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate and was flown to 8 MU at Little Rissington on 2nd February 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Leconfield on 8th March 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 27th April 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 466 Squadron use. On 14th May 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Bochum that saw one of the crew killed while another four became PoW. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 1st June 1943 having flown just over 95 hours from new.