On the night of 9th / 10th November 1942 this 158 Squadron aircraft was used on an operational flight to bomb Hamburg, it took off from Rufforth at 17.45hrs and was slightly damaged by flak over Germany in the starboard wing and wing flap. On approach to land at Rufforth at 00.27hrs the pilot held off too high and when he did land the landing was too heavy resulting in the undercarriage collapsing.
Pilot - Sgt John Bartlett RNZAF (NZ.413370).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Ian Urquart McLauchlan RAFVR (1388268).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Noel Dymond RAFVR (1287067).
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Peter Thurston Wallis RAFVR (1321136).
Rear Gunner - Sgt William Edward George Durnell RAF (531752).
Flight Engineer - Sgt James Thorogood RAF (625658).
Navigator - Sgt Lawrence Ernest Walter Jackson RAFVR (1292954).
Just days later Sgt's Jackson and Wallis were killed when Halifax DG223 crashed near Bilbrough.
John Bartlett enlisted for RNZAF service in June 1941 and after basic training he left for the UK in January 1942. He had an eventful but brief time with 158 Squadron, he was the pilot of Halifax W1038 which would crash near Wigginton on his first flight in a 158 Squadron Halifax on 16th October 1942. On the night of 9th / 10th November 1942 he was the pilot of Halifax DT521 that suffered an undercarriage collapse after returning from Ops to Genoa. A fatal accident on 6th December 1942 involving Halifax DG223 was his last with 158 Squadron and he did not fly operationally again. He spent three months at 2 (O)AFU at Millom and a month at the Staff Pilots Training Unit in 1943 but later returned to New Zealand by the end of 1943. After the War he returned home to New Zealand where he died on 11th November 1997.
Halifax DT521 was built to contact B982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was delivered directly to 158 Squadron at East Moor on 24th September 1942. It suffered Cat.Ac/FB following battle damage on 23rd / 24th October 1942 and was repaired on site. It moved with 158 Squadron to Rufforth on 6th November 1942. The aircraft then suffered an undercarriage collapse at Rufforth on 10th November 1942 that would appear to have resulted in Cat.B/FA because the aircraft was transported to Handley Page for a repair in works. Once servicable it passed to 8 M.U. on 17th March 1943 where it was placed in store. The aircraft was then taken on charge by 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 4th October 1943. On 12th April 1944 it passed to 1662 H.C.U. at Blyton where is ended it's days before being struck off charge on 18th July 1944 as time expired. It had clocked up a total flying time of 463 flying hours.
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