Hudson AM561 damaged by enemy action, returned to Thornaby airfield.
On 10th September 1941 this 608 Squadron was being flown on an air firing exercise in the North Sea roughly twenty five miles off Redcar when, at 15.00hrs, the Hudson was attacked by a Junkers Ju88. The pilot / captain of the Hudson took evasive action and the gunners returned fire. The second pilot left his position in the cockpit and manned ones of the side guns further back in the fuselage. The Hudson received a few bullet holes in the fuselage and the second pilot sustained a minor flesh wound on his cheek caused by a passing bullet but otherwise escaped injury. The Ju88 was claimed as damaged in the nose of the aircraft and was last seen flying off in the opposite direction. The Hudson was landed safely at Thornaby. Bullet holes were found in the port elevator, tail plane and fuselage, port mainplane and the starboard bomb door.
Pilot - P/O John Daniel Berry RAFVR (89341).
Second Pilot - P/O Eric Thompson RAFVR (86671). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt James Knott RAFVR (808075).
Air Gunner - Sgt J Chambers RAFVR (751137).
Eric Thompson received a commission in October 1940, he would survive the war and continue his service until 1955.
James Knott received a commission in March 1943. He also survived the War.
John Berry received a commission in December 1940. He died on 5th November 1941 when Hudson AM657 failed to return from an operational flight to the area of the Frisian Islands. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Hudson AM561 was built to B.P.C. contract A-1749 by the Lockheed Corporation at Burbank, California, USA and was shipped to the UK, arriving at Liverpool Docks in April1941. It was taken by road to No.1 A.A.U. at Speke for assembly and testing then went to 22 MU on 25th April 1941. On 1st July 1941 it was taken on charge by 608 Squadron at Thornaby. As a result of battle damage sustained on 10th September 1941 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. As a result of further battle damage on 25th October 1941 Cat.Ac/FB was the damage assessment but it may have been upgraded to Cat.B as the aircraft left the unit around this time. The aircraft went to Cuncliffe Owen on 31st December 1941 probably for a lengthy repair. On 22nd July 1942 it went to 22 MU and was then taken on charge by No.1 (C)O.T.U. at Silloth on 8th October 1942. On 17th April 1943 it was flown to 10 MU. The aircraft existed until 28th March 1946 when it was struck off charge.