On the night of 22nd / 23rd November 1942 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 17.24hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Stuttgart, they attacked the target through thick cloud and their incendiaries were seen to start fires near the railway yards. At 22.02hrs the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers Ju88 which scored hits on the fuselage, tailplane and wings. Seven minutes later the aircraft was attacked again by three FW190's and the pilot successfully took evasive action diving from 15,000ft to 3,000ft. The Halifax landed safely at base at 02.11hrs. On the website "nzetc.victoria.ac.nz" the pilot is quoted as saying that on this flight the aircraft had flown so low across France to avoid search-lights that the aircraft had clipped the tops of trees, small branches became wedged in the front of the aircraft and it flew the rest of the flight with these embedded in the aircraft. The main spar was found to have been damaged by a cannon shell. All those listed below were posted in to 10 Squadron from 10 Squadron Conversion Flight on 22nd October 1942 as a complete crew.
Pilot - P/O Raymond Herbert Brookbanks RNZAF (413809).
Navigator - F/O Alan George Taylor RAFVR (120348).
Air Bomber - Sgt Edward Richard Porter RAFVR (1379498).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Charles Reginald Farrar RAFVR (1263134).
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald William Dufton RCAF (R/119305).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Harry Scrivener RAFVR (936170).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Frederick Schmidt RCAF (R/128113).
Donald Dufton was born on 10th December 1922 in Toronto and enlisted into the RCAF in July 1941. He was later posted to 77 Squadron during early 1943 and was involved in a flak incident in Halifax JB892 on 1st May 1943. WO2 Donald Dufton was killed on 13th August 1943 flying Ops to Milan in Halifax JD125, the aircraft crashed in France with the loss of the whole crew. His body was unable to be identified by the post-war war graves investigation team although the remains of all but one of those who died are known to be buried locally in Verneuil-sur-Avre, France. WO2 Dufton is one of four of the crew of JD125 to be commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. A memorial plaque has now been erected on the grave site in his honour. He was just twenty. His father living in Toronto when he death was notified in the Canadian newspapers.
Harry Scrivener received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 7th June 1943 (148053). He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th October 1943. He was later promoted to F/O on 7th December 1943 and F/Lt on 7th June 1945. He left the RAF on 30th April 1946.
Charles Farrar also received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 7th June 1943 (148039). He too was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, also Gazetted on 19th October 1943. He was later promoted to F/O on 7th December 1943 and F/Lt on 7th June 1945. He remained in the RAF until 11th December 1958.
Edward Schmidt was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th October 1943. He later received his commission and is believed to have served with 427 Squadron before the end of the War. His DFM citation (as located by and recorded in Hugh Halliday RCAF research) mentions the battle damage incident in November 1942 as recorded above, the citation states that "Since joining his squadron this airman has completed a successful tour of duty and has now been posted to instructional duties. The aircraft in which he has been flying as air gunner was on one occasion attacked by a Junkers 88 and again by three Focke Wulf 190s and has several times been damaged by anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Schmidt has nevertheless continued to operate with the greatest enthusiasm. He is a skilful air gunner who has always displayed great courage and determination."
Alan Taylor received a commisison to the rank of P/O on probation on 4th April 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 4th October 1942. He too was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943. By March 1944 he was flying a second Tour with 78 Squadron, on 31st March 1944 he was flying in
he is buried in Hanover War Cemetery and was twenty six years old.
Raymond Brookbanks was born in Auckland in August 1919 and was working as a secretary and accountant when he enlisted for the RNZAF in July 1941. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943 and while in the rank of Acting F/Lt.
Halifax DG226 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke and was awaiting collection on 7th June 1942. It was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th June 1942 but was transferred to 10 Conversion Flight on 24th September 1942 at Melbourne. On 19th October 1942 it was transferred to the parent 10 Squadron also at Melbourne. As a result of battle damage on 23rd November 1942 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage became the damage assessment with a temporary repair on site at Melbourne beginning on 26th November 1942. It was returned to 10 Squadron charge on 2nd January 1943 but the following day it was test flown by P/O Brooksbank who deemed it in need of a major repair. On 13th January 1943 it was flown to Fairey Aviation Ltd. Civilian Repair Centre at Ringway for repair, with this complete on 7th February 1943 it was flown to 158 Squadron at Rufforth. 158 Squadron moved to Lissett at the end of February 1943 and took the aircraft. On 6th April 1943 it was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall and on 21st July 1943 it was transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 13th September 1943 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage when the tail wheel structure was damaged on landing, after which a repair on site was made. On 28th October 1943 it was returned to 1652 H.C.U. charge once servicable. On 24th August 1944 it crashed near Wetherby Golf Course with the loss of the then crew. The aircraft was destroyed and was struck off charge the same day with Cat.E2/FA damage recorded on the paperwork.
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