Wellington Z1286 damaged by flak, returned to Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
On the night of 20th / 21st October 1941 this 458 Squadron aircraft took off from Holme on Spalding Moor at 20.00hrs with the crew were tasked with bombing
Antwerp docks. Because of poor weather over the target area the crew were unable to locate their target so bombed Rotterdam docks instead but was
hit by flak over Rotterdam. The aircraft sustained slight damage to the fuselage and front turret. The pilot brought the aircraft home and landed
at base at 01.20hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Walter Bruce Skinner RAF (40062).
Second Pilot - Sgt Frank O'Kearney Eivers RAFVR (1259439).
Observer - Sgt Colin Edwyn Corten RAAF (402227).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Sydney Austin RAFVR (1159702).
Air Gunner - Sgt James Edward Andrews RAF (619953).
Air Gunner - Sgt A L Jones (639739?).
Walter Skinner received a commission before the war through Pilot Officer and Flying Officer, he rose to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940 and to
S/Ldr (temp) on 1st January 1943. He transferred to the Reserve in 1943 and survived the War resigning his commission on 26th August 1947 but
retaining the rank of S/Ldr.
Prior to a posting to 458 Squadron he had flown with 12 Squadron and arrived at 458 Squadron on 6th October 1941.
His stay at 458 Squadron was only brief as he was posted out to 215 Squadron on 4th January 1942.
Sgt Eivers was soon posted away from 458 Squadron, possibly as they were sent to the Middle East. He was flying with 103 Squadron when, on
25th April 1942 flying in Wellington DV579 on Ops to Rostock their aircraft was lost without trace. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty years old.
Sgt Austin was still flying with 458 Squadron on 9th January 1942 when he was in Wellington R1785 which was hit by flak on Ops to Cherbourg and
crashed in the target area. He was buried locally in Cherbourg, France.
Colin Corten was born on 23rd May 1918 in Brisbane, Queensland and enlisted in Sydney. He survived the War. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree
at the University of Sidney.
Sgt Andrews was en-route from Stanton Harcourt for Luqa in Wellington DV539 on 16th February 1942. At the time 458 Squadron were transferring from
Bomber Command in the UK to operations in the Middle East. The aircraft he was in was shot down off Malta by Ju88's and crashed into the Med. His body
was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty years old.
Sgt Jones' details are not known, the service number is the one given in the squadron ORB but there is no other reference to it upon searching the world wide web.
Wellington Z1286 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester and was awaiting collection in September 1941. It was received by 44 M.U on 17th September 1941 and was taken on charge by 458 Squadron on 29th September 1941. As a result of the damage on 21st October 1941 minor Cat.A/FB damage would have been
the assessment but it does not feature on it's AM Form 78. It was repaired on site and continued to be used by 458 Squadron until they ceased operating Mk.IV Wellingtons in early 1942. The aircraft was transferred to 142 Squadron at Binbrook on 26th January 1942. It sustained minor damage on 16th May 1942 that was the re-assessed on 27th May 1942 and upgraded to Re-Cat.B and was taken away for a repair at Sywell. With the repair complete on 5th August 1942 it was received by 46 M.U. and was then taken on charge by 300 Squadron at Ingham on 2nd September 1942. In January 1943 300 Squadron converted to Mk.III Wellington and the aircraft was passed onto 301 Squadron
at Hemswell on 21st January 1943. 301 Squadron disbanded in April 1943 so the aircraft was transferred to 305 Squadron at Hemswell on 3rd April 1943. In late-April 1943 305 Squadron converted to Mk.X Wellington so the aircraft was placed into long term MU storage at 38 M.U. on 24th April 1943. It was struck off charge on 23rd January 1944.