Wellington W5667 damaged by flak, landed at Snaith airfield.
During the evening of 21st October 1941 the crew of this 150 Squadron aircraft flew an operational flight to Boulogne, they took off from Snaith airfield at 18.35hrs. Ground haze and cloud along the French area made locating the target area difficult. Ground defences were considerable on the run towards the target and a flak burst next to the fuselage damaged the geodetics and damaged the hydraulic system to the rear turret. The wireless operator was wounded in the shoulder by the flak burst and the damage caused the pilot to loose control briefly. The crew opted to jettison the bomb load into the sea and made for England. They appear to have been able to return all the way to Snaith where they landed at 22.55hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Percy Gainsford RNZAF (NZ.402863). Later DFC & AFC.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Joseph Pugh RAFVR (1107190).
Observer - P/O Alexander Reynell Galbraith RNZAF (NZ.403598).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Maxfield RAFVR (746894). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Christopher William Turner RAFVR (917377).
Air Gunner - Sgt Patrick Clement Geary RAFVR (914328).
Patrick Geary would received the DFM for service with 150 Squadron and survived the war having received a commission.
Sgt Christopher Turner was killed flying with 150 Squadron on 28th April 1942 in Wellington X3299. He is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Wellington W5667 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in March 1941. It was received by 22 MU on 13th March 1941 and was taken on charge by 150 Squadron at Snaith on 7th April 1941. As a result of damage sustained on 21st October 1941 minor Cat.A(c)/FB damage resulted and it was repaired on site with it returning to 150 Squadron on 24th January 1942. On 4th April 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 18 O.T.U. at Bramcote and it then passed to 22 OTU on 5th August 1942 and finally to 14 OTU at Cottesmore on 6th November 1942. On 6th February 1943 the aircraft crashed near Old Leake, Lincolnshire, Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage resulted and sadly five aircrew were killed.
Frederick Maxfield received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th August 1942 and would be slightly injured in the crash of Wellington Z1671 near Pocklington on 5th September 1942 while serving with 150 Squadron. P/O Maxfield was in Wellington X3552 on 15th / 16th October 1942 which is believed to have crashed into the sea off Holland on Ops to Cologne. He was twenty nine years old and is buried at Ulrum General Cemetery, De Marne, Holland.