Hampden AE143 at Little Driffield.
On the night of 29th / 30th September 1941 the crew of this 144 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to attempt to bomb the Admiral Scheer in Hamburg Docks.
Because of poor visibility over the general target area they spent longer than planned attempting to find it after a time they released their bombload over the
docks and made for home. The aircraft crossed the North Sea but came in over land too far north to be able to make a return to their home base because they were
now running out of fuel having spent too long over the target. As they crossed the coast one engine stopped. The crew made radio contact with Driffield airfield
who initially refused them permission to land because of low cloud but because the crew had no alternative permission was granted and the pilot turned the aircraft
to make a final approach to land. Just as he made the turn the fuel ran out and the second engine stopped. The aircraft lost height and first struck a tree, followed
by a barn and came to rest against the wall of a row of cottages in Little Driffield demolishing an outside toilet in the process of coming to a halt. The location
is quoted as being in the garden of a house at Sunnyside in Little Driffield. All four airmen survived without injury.
Hampden AE143 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in April 1941. It was allotted to 12 MU on 23rd April 1941 and was received by them on 7th May 1941. It was taken on charge by 144 Squadron at Hemswell on 15th June 1941 and moved with the squadron to North Luffenham on 17th July 1941. As a result of the damage on 30th September 1941 near Driffield Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off but possibly not initially. It was transported to the LMS Carriage Works, Service Aircraft Section on 2nd October 1941 and was struck off charge on 5th October 1941.
Pilot - Sgt Peter Arthur Charles McDermott RAFVR (1260976).
Navigator - Sgt Jack Stewart Boucher RAFVR (964391).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunenr - Sgt Herbert Smith RAFVR (1325144).
Air Gunner - Sgt John Kenneth Elliott RAFVR (755862).
"In December 1941, Sergeants McDermott and Boucher were captain and navigator respectively of one of a force of aircraft which attacked the battle cruisers at Brest in daylight. Whilst over the target area, intense and accurate defensive fire was encountered and the aircraft, being repeatedly hit, sustained much damage. Despite this, Sergeants McDermott and Boucher pressed home their attack and bombed the target from 1,000 feet. The explosion from an enemy shell stunned Sergeant Boucher, who was wounded in the face and eyes by flying fragments. Sergeant McDermott skilfully piloted his aircraft from the fire zone and, assisted by his wounded navigator who, although suffering intense pain, insisted on directing his pilot, eventually flew back to an aerodrome in this country where a safe landing was effected. Both these airmen displayed skill and fortitude throughout. Some few days earlier, Sergeants McDermott and Boucher successfully carried out a difficult mine-laying mission in enemy waters."
He was born in Nantwich, Cheshire and enlisted into the RAFVR in 1939. He survived a Tour of 31 operational flights with 144 Squadron and was later posted to Canada for (probable) instructional duties. He transferred to the Technical Branch before receiving a commission on 6th May 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (143527), he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 6th November 1943 and on 6th November 1947 he was graded as F/Lt (substantive). He was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st July 1963 and retired on his own request on 12th September 1970 after another fantastic period of service to his country. His medal set and flying logbook was up for sale in 2004 and his last flight listed in it was in 1954, the set sold for £3000.
Both Sgt's McDermott and Boucher were soon awarded immediate DFM's for their actions in December 1941 on an operational flight to attempt to bomb the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau battleships. Their joint citation was very detailed and reads..
Peter McDermott received a commission on 7th April 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (120170) and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 7th October 1942 and F/Lt on 7th April 1944. He later served with 162 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for service with them while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr, Gazetted on 17th July 1945. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1945. Post-war he remained in the airforce and transferred to the RAF, he was granted a permanent commission in the RAF on 15th July 1946 as F/O, but in another page of the London Gazette dated 16th July 1946 he was promoted to F/Lt from the war substantive rank of F/Lt with seniority 17th October 1945. He was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st July 1950 and W/Co on 1st January 1957. In 1958 he was posted to HQ Bomber Command for administrative planning dutues. He retired from the RAF at his own request on 30th April 1966 after a fantastic period of service to his country.
Jack Boucher received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th March 1942 (119892). He was later promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and then to F/Lt (war subs) on 30th March 1944.
Sgt Elliott was awarded the DFM for service with 144 Squadronm Gazetted on 26th June 1942, the recommendation referred to the same raid on Brest in which McDermott and Boucher were awarded DFMs which reads.. "This N.C.O. was member of a crew which carried out a daylight attack on Brest during December. This operation was undertaken in the face of intense A.A. opposition, and the aircraft was repeatedly hit by flak, the Navigator receiving wounds. Sergeant Elliott earned the highest praise from his Captain for his skilful handling of his set and cheerfulness under these difficult conditions, and there is no doubt he greatly assisted in the homing of the aircraft safely to base."
Herbert Smith joined the RAF in 1940. After training at 2 EWS, 5 BGS and 25 OTU he was posted to 144 Squadron and begun his operational flying in June 1941. He completed a thirty operational flights Tour with 144 Squadron and was posted to 16 OTU as a Gunnery Instructor in November 1941. After serving with the Central Gunnery School in 1943 he was posted to 156 Squadron PFF as a rear gunner and flew a further operational Tour with 156 Squadron for which he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd March 1945, while in the rank of Warrant Officer. He mainly flew in Lancaster PA966 with S/Ldr J A Robertson.