Lancaster W4941 damaged by flak, returned to Breighton airfield.
On the night of 20th / 21st April 1943 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Stettin and left Breighton at 21.37hrs. The aircraft was hit by flak before they reached the target area and injured the navigator, the aircraft was also damaged in the starboard fin and rudder, the bomb doors were hit, the floor the of the aircraft holed and the tail plane further damaged. The port outer engine was also hit and between twenty to thirty holes between the mid upper turret and rear turret were found. After being hit by flak the aircraft lost height and the port out engine then failed. The crew opted to head towards neutral Sweden and to bale out, they jettisoned the bomb load but as they then prepared to bale out the aircraft began to maintain height. The crew then opted to cross the North Sea and made a safe landing at Breighton at 07.10hrs. This flight took its toll on the pilot who was ordered straight to bed by the medical officer so the bomb aimer gave the de-brief recorded in the squadron ORB. The injured navigator was taken to York Military Hospital for treatment to his shrapnel injuries which his service file states was in his buttock and thigh but made a recovery and was posted back to his squadron. For their actions on this night Sgt Fuhrmann was awarded the DFM and F/O Anderson was awarded the DFC, the details of their award was printed in the London Gazette dated 25th May 1943 and the joint citation reads..
"One night in April 1943, Flying Officer Anderson and Sergeant Fuhrman were navigator and pilot respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Stettin. Whilst over the Baltic Sea, the aircraft was repeatedly hit by fire from an armed ship. One engine was put out of action, the tail unit was damaged, restricting practically all rudder movements, while a shell penetrated the bomb bay, exploding amongst the incendiaries. Flying Officer Anderson was wounded in the thigh and buttock by splinters of shrapnel which entered his cabin. The situation was perilous but Sergeant Fuhrman decided to attempt to fly the damaged bomber home. Displaying superb airmanship and great endurance he eventually accomplished his purpose, flying the damaged bomber to an airfield in this country where he effected a masterly landing before collapsing at the controls. During the return flight, Flying Officer Anderson, despite his injuries, refused to leave his post and continued his navigational duties, rendering great assistance to his pilot. Both these members of the crew displayed exceptional courage, skill and fortitude in the face of a trying ordeal."
Pilot - Sgt Herbert Leonard Fuhrmann RAAF (415079).
Navigator - F/O Charles Beattie Anderson RAAF (416735). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Stuart Nicholson Scott RAAF (405884).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Donald Walter Woods RAFVR (1184099).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur William Howard Gliddon RAAF (415135).
Air Gunner - Sgt John Patrick Doyle RAFVR (1323519).
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Edward Bent RAAF (415066).
The whole of this crew were killed serving with 460 Squadron on the night of 29th / 30th July 1943 flying Ops to Hamburg in Lancaster JA689, their aircraft was shot down by an enemy fighter possibly over land. The body of Sgt John Doyle was found and buried locally at Harburg and is now buried in Becklington War Cemetery but the other six crew have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Fuhrmann was 25, Anderson was 27, Scott was 24, Gliddon was 26 and Bent was 21 years old.
Herbert Fuhrmann was born on 27th November 1917 in Collie, Western Australia and enlisted into the RAAF in Perth. He was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th May 1943 He received his commission on 2nd August 1943 to the rank of P/O had been killed on 30th July 1943 flying Lancaster JA689 and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Charles Anderson was born on 1st June 1916 at Port Adelaide and was working as a clerk when he enlisted into the RAAF on 11th September 1941 in Adelaide. He received his commission on 25th June 1942 to the rank of P/O and was later promoted to F/O on 25th December 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained with 27 O.T.U. begining 15th October 1942, 1662 C.U. begining 1st March 1943 before posting operationally to 460 Squadron. F/O Andrerson was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 25th May 1943 and was also Mentioned in Despatches.
Stuart Scott was born on 12th March 1919 in Brisbane and enlisted into the RAAF there on 21st June 1941, he was working in a bank in Mossman prior to enlisting. On arrival in the UK he trained at 10 (O)AFU begining 17th September 1942, 27 OTU begining 13th October 1942, 1656 CU begining 1st March 1943, 1662 CU begining 8th March 1943 and was then posted to 460 Squadron on 6th April 1943. He received a commission on 3rd July 1943.
Arthur Gliddon was born on 24th February 1917 in Northam, Western Australia and enlisted into the RAAF in Perth.
Thomas Bent was born on 11th September 1921 in Collie, Western Australia and enlisted into the RAAF in Perth. It is possible that both he and his pilot Herbert Fuhrmann knew each other as both men were from Collie.
Lancaster W4941 was built to contract B.69275/40 by MetroVic Ltd. at Trafford Park and was delivered to A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd. at Woodford for assembly on 15th March 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 25th March 1943. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 21st April 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment. A repair on site commenced on 26th April 1943 and it was returned to 460 Squadron on 17th May 1943 but they had moved to Binbrook some days earlier. On 1st July 1943 it required a repair by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd in their works factory. On 2nd October 1943 it was awaiting collection and on 30th October 1943 it was flown to 39 M.U. at Colerne. On 24th November 1943 it was taken on charge by 5 L.F.S. at Syerston. On 5th June 1944 it received a repair on site for an unspecified reason by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd and returned to 5 L.F.S. once complete. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that on 1st October 1944 it received a Cat.E/FA damage assessment. Two days later it was reassessed as Re.Cat.Ac and a repair on site was begun by a team from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd. On 4th November 1944 the aircraft was returned to 5 L.F.S. charge. The aircraft lasted until 27th December 1944 when it was converted to Ground Instructional Airframe 4971M. The GIA was used at 1669 H.C.U. at Langar. It was finally struck off charge on 26th September 1945.