Halifax NP759 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On 28th August 1944 the crew on board this 432 Squadron aircraft were tasked with bombing a V1 launch site at Oeuf en Ternois. They took off from East Moor at 18.44hrs and released their bomb load at 20.25hrs from 15,000 feet. The aircraft sustained flak damage but the pilot was able to return to East Moor and land safely at 22.09hrs.
Pilot - F/O D Best RCAF (J/16169).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Edward Tarleton RAFVR (2203500).
Navigator - F/O J Barlow RCAF (J/28959).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Douglas Bentley Hopkins RCAF (J/28985).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald Malham RAFVR (1492882).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt F Laudrum RCAF (R/205347).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt F Lindblom RCAF (R/203652).
Halifax NP759 was built to contract ACFT/1688/C4/C by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was delivered to 432 Squadron at East Moor on 21st August 1944. It suffered Cat.Ac/FB battle damage on 28th August 1944 and was repaired on site. Repairs took two weeks to complete and the aircraft was returned to 432 Squadron on 9th September 1944. On 5th January 1945 it failed to return from an operational flight, crashing at Mehringen with the loss of two of the then crew while five became PoW's. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge.
F/O Best and his crew joined 432 Squadron in May 1944. Best went on to complete thirty four; thirty two as Captain and two as second pilot, with the last of these being on 6th October 1944. The lack of awards this crew received goes to show that just by completing a Tour it did not automatically means the award of a DFC or DFM, only the bomb aimer received any award but undoubtably all were very capable airmen.
Douglas Hopkins was born in Vancouver in 1921 but was living in Langley Prairie when he enlisted in Vancouver in March 1942 and he received his commission in 1943. He was recommended for the DFC on 28th October 1944 when he had flown thirty two operational flights between 27th May 1944 and 6th October 1944. Notification of his DFC was printed in the London Gazette on 16th February 1945 but there was no proper citation. The recommendation was more detailed, it reads.. "Flying Officer Hopkins is an above average Air Bomber, who has shown a high degree of skill and courage. This has been demonstrated in thirty-two successful sorties over enemy targets. His cheerful disposition, coupled with complete confidence and ability to successfully impart his knowledge to others, has been instrumental in developing new crews. For his fine record of achievement and strong sense of duty, this officer is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)." I credit Hugh Halliday with this research.
Edward Tarleton received a commission on 2nd February 1945 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and rose to F/O (war subs) on 2nd August 1945. He remained in the RAF post-war and was granted the rank of F/O (subs) on 1st November 1946, back dated to 2nd February 1946. He relinquished his commission in 1954.