Halifax DT559 damaged by flak, returned to Rufforth airfield.
In the early hours of 3rd December 1942 this 158 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Frankfurt and took off from Rufforth airfield at 01.25hrs. The aircraft was over the target area at 04.39hrs and the crew released their bomb load from 17,000 feet but while in that area the aircraft received damage to the wings and fuselage by flak. The aircraft remained flyable and they landed at Rufforth at 09.06hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt John Mortimer Viney RAF (42283).
Navigator - Sgt Peter Heaton RCAF.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Leslie Purchase RAFVR (1391123).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Earl Edward Morgan RCAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt Walter George Kemp RCAF (R/101485).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ralph Johnston Clark RCAF.
Flight Engineer - Sgt William Settle Smith RAFVR (996836).
Second Pilot - F/Lt Peter Edwin Ayscough RAF (84333).
John Viney was born in 1920 in the Abingdon area and as a boy he attended Abingdon School. He joined the RAF before the start of the War and was granted a commission as Acting P/O on probation on 24th June 1939. He was then graded as P/O on probation on 20th April 1940 and was confrmed as P/O on 1st May 1940. He was posted to 158 Squadron in October 1942 and flew a Tour with them. While in the rank of Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DFC for service with 158 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for service with 640 Squadron, Gazetted later on 13th April 1945, having served as 640 Squadron's Commanding Officer. This was the only DSO awarded to any 640 Squadron personnel. With his second Tour of operations completed in January 1945 he was posted to Carnaby where he served as Station Commander from 22nd January 1945 until May 1945. He left the RAF after the war and died in 1976. His medal set, log book and other photographs were presented to his former school after his death.
Peter Ayscough was killed on 13th February 1943 flying 158 Squadrn Halifax W1182 crashed in Somerset. He is buried Southwick Cemetery, Surrey.
A commissioned P/O Smith was killed on 12th June 1943 when 158 Squadron Halifax JD117 failed to return from an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf. He is buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Halifax DT559 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in mid-October 1942. It was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 14th October 1942. On 29th October 1942 it was taken on charge by 158 Squadron at Rufforth. Here the aircraft's AM Form 78 is wrong as it states it was destroyed in a crash on 20th November 1942 sustaining Cat.E/FB damage. This is not correct and which aircraft this should be allocated to has not yet been discovered. The aircraft's history continue with during the early hours of 3rd December 1942 it was slightly damaged by flak during an operational flight to bomb Frankfurt with the pilot (F/Lt J M Viney) landing safely at base. Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment although nothing is recorded on the aircraft's Form AM78. A repair on site at Rufforth was made. It was next used operationally on the night of 6th / 7th December 1942 and was again was slightly damaged by flak. Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment although nothing is recorded on the aircraft's Form AM78. A repair on site at Rufforth was made. It was next used operationally on 9th December 1942. While bring flown operationally on 11th December 1942 the port inner engine failed and the starboard inner developed a leak, the pilot jettisoned the bomb load and landed at Abingdon. It was next used operationally on 20th December 1942. While being flown operationally on 14th January 1943 it again suffered a failed port inner engine and this time problems with the starboard outer engine, it's pilot landed at Harwell. The aircraft then dropped out of operational use by 158 Squadron for a month, probably while it's engines were worked on. It was next used operationally on 16th February 1943. On 25th February 1943 it suffered trouble with the starboard outer engine while outbound for an operational flight. 158 Squadron moved to Lissett on 28th February 1943. The aircraft was next used operationally on 5th March 1943. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 9th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment although nothing was written on the Form AM78. It was repaired on site. It was used again operationally between 22nd March 1943 and 10th April 1943 without incident or engine fault. Hurray. After this it was replaced as "-D" by Halifax HR780 and flew no more operational flights with 158 Squadron. On paper the aircraft remained with 158 Squadron at Lissett for many months but whether it actually did in practice is not yet known. It certainly wasn't used operationally by them again. It's Form AM78 is missing various things, including transfer to 466 Squadron at Leconfield in September 1943 when they converted from Wellingtons to Halifaxes. It flew no operational flights with them. On 3rd November 1943 it exploded some five miles off Flamborough Head while it's then crew were undertaking a training exercise. Sadly all on board were killed. Cat.E/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was written off. Was the fatal loss preventable ? Arguably yes given it's recorded engine faults that blighted it's operational career. Had the inexperienced Halifax crew had trouble with the clearly dodgy port inner engine and / or fuel supply and did this result in a mid-air explosion ? No-one will ever know.