Halifax R9363 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 30th / 31st May 1942 this 405 Conversion Flight aircraft was been flown on the Thousand Bomber raid to Cologne when it was attacked around five miles north west of the target by an Me110. Damage was sustained in the port outer engine and fuel tank but the pilot was able to fly the last few miles to the target, release the bombs, make the return across the North Sea and land safely at Pocklington airfield on three engines.
Pilot - P/O Turnbull.
? - Sgt Douse.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O Raymond Arthur Gardiner RCAF (J/15548).
? - F/Sgt Curtis.
Air Gunner - Sgt Edwin Charles Alfred Coules RAFVR (1331982).
? - Sgt Laughlin.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Alan Danby RAFVR (1065468).
Sgt Alan Danby was killed in 405 Squadron Halifax W1175 when it was lost on Ops to Bremen on 27th / 28th June 1942. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. His brother Francis was killed when 77 Squadron Halifax JB863 crashed next to what is now Fulford Golf Course, York on 19th June 1943.
Sgt Edwin Coules was killed on 3rd September 1942 when 405 Squadron Halifax DT487 failed to return from an operational flight. He is buried in Hotton War Cemetery.
Halifax R9363 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was flown to 24 MU at Ternhill on 20th October 1941. It was initially taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Croft on 24th February 1942 and then transferred to 405 Conversion Flight at Pocklington on 23rd April 1942. It was used on the Thousand Bomber raid on Cologne on 31st May 1942 and was attacked by a Bf110 night fighter that damaged the port outer engine. Cat.A/FB damage was the result of the assessment and a repair on site was begun on 3rd June 1942. It was returned to 405 Conversion Flight on 19th June 1942 but they moved to Topcliffe while it was being repaired. As result of damage sustained on 1st September 1942 minor Cat.A/FA was the assessment and it was again repaired on site with the repair beginning on 7th September 1942. It was returned to 405 C.F. the following day. On 6th October 1942 it was transferred to 408 Conversion Flight at Leeming. On 7th October 1942 408 Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Leeming but the AM Form 78 records the transfer as being on 14th March 1943 once they had moved to Topcliffe. It received minor Cat.Ac/FA damage on 6th April 1943 at Topcliffe after ground loop with the next repair beginning on 9th April 1943. It was then returned to 1659 H.C.U. on 13th June 1943. On 25th July 1943 it was again damaged at Topcliffe when it ground looped, Cat.Ac/FA damage being the damage assessment again. A repair on site began on 29th July 1943 by Handley Page Ltd and it was returned to 1659 H.C.U. on 15th September 1943. On 17th September 1944 it received a damage assessment of Cat.Ac, possibly from a flying accident. The damage was re-assessed on 28th September 1944 and it was Re.Cat.E which saw it struck off charge the same day.