On 13th April 1940 this 220 Squadron Hudson "NR-S" aircraft left Thornaby at 06.10hrs and was instructed to fly along the coast of Norway between Oberstad and Kristiansund. At 10.16hrs the crew signalled that they were being attacked by fighters over Stavanger airfield and that an Me110 damaged the rear gunner turret in the second attack. As a result of the fourth attack the rear gunner sustained a bullet wound in the arm and hand. The enemy aircraft was later seen with the engine on fire and diving towards the sea in flames. The Hudson returned to base and landed safely at Thornaby 12.45hrs with a flat tyre and damage to the turret and fuselage. The air gunner did not fly operationally with 220 Squadron again in April 1940 but was awarded the DFC for his actions on this flight.
Pilot - F/Lt Harold Wentworth Aylward Sheahan DFC RAF (37266).
Second Pilot / Navigator - Sgt Dennis Laycock Walsh RAF (565202).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Sydney Smith RAF (623798).
Air Gunner - P/O William Edward Nicholas RAF (43014). Injured.
Harold Sheahan was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 16th September 1935 as Acting P/O on probation and later posted to 5 FTS for training, he was confirmed as P/O exactly a year later and was posted to 220 Squadron on 29th November 1936. He was promoted to F/O on 16th March 1938 and to Acting F/Lt on 2nd March 1939. He was awarded the DFC for service with 220 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th February 1940. He rose to F/Lt on 16th March 1940. He was killed on 1st August 1940 when Hudson N7314 crashed not far from Thornaby at Maltby. He was twenty eight years old and buried at Thornaby on Tees Cemetery.
Sgt Smith was also on board Hudson N7314 when it crashed at Maltby, he too is buried at Thornaby on Tees Cemetery. He was twenty six years old. He was from Deneside, Seaham. Co.Durham.
William Nicholas was granted a commission in the General Duties Branch of the RAF on 17th January 1940 as P/O on probation and was probably promoted to F/O six months later though the entry in the London Gazette has yet to be located to confirm this. He was awarded the DFC in Summer 1940 for service with 220 Squadron as a result of his actions detailed above, but no date or citation for his DFC has been located. He rose to F/Lt on 17th January 1942. While in the rank of Acting S/Ldr he was granted to be an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order on 1st January 1944 (the OBE). The recommendation for which reads.. "This officer is a squadron gunnery leader and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding work whilst operating on the Norwegian coast. His experience in the United States of America has proved of great value in the operational role of the squadron. During three and half years he has done 130 sorties and has been responsible for providing Operational Training Unit courses which are not available for Fortress aircraft crews to all gunners in the squadron. He has maintained by his own enthusiasm a fine offensive spirit which has been an inspiration to all." He was promoted to the rank of S/Ldr on 15th June 1945. He retired from the RAF on 4th April 1958 as W/Co with his rank of W/Co having seniority of 11th May 1956.
Dennis Walsh later received a commission (46810), he survived the war and remained in the RAF until 1959.
Hudson N7304 was built to contract 791587/38 by The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California and was shipped to the UK arriving in August 1939. After assembly it was issued to 5 MU on 14th September 1939 where it was stored until being taken on charge by 220 Squadron at Thornaby on 27th December 1939. It went to 32 MU on 15th February 1940 then returned to 220 Squadron on 15th March 1940. It must have only received Cat.A/FB damage as a result of the battle damage on 13th April 1940 and it must have been repaired on site but the incident is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. It was later transferred to No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Silloth on 24th July 1940. On 4th May 1941 it stalled and spun into the Solway Firth with the loss of its then crew. Cat.W/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 31st May 1941.