On the night of 5th / 6th June 1942 the crew of this aircraft were one of a number of 10 Squadron tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Leeming at 22.41hrs. They attacked their primary target and the aircraft sustained two small flak holes but the crew were able to make a safe return to base and landed at Leeming at 03.44hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Thomas William George Godfrey RAFVR (68176).
ORB lists no bomb aimer.
Observer - F/Lt Jack Vincent Watts RCAF (J/4688).
Wireless Operator - F/Sgt Arthur Joseph Jones DFM RAFVR (907624).
Air Gunner - Sgt J F Patterson.
Air Gunner - Sgt Franklin J Falkoski RCAF (R/70610).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Thomas Rupert Guy O'Connor RAF (569352).
Jack Watts was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1920 and enlisted for RCAF service in July 1940. He first flew operationally the UK with 10 Squadron and for service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 4th August 1942. The citation for his DFC reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Watts is a courageous and highly skilled navigator who has done much to ensure the success of many of the sorties in which he has participated. One night in April 1942 he was the navigator of an aircraft detailed to attack the naval base at Trondheim. On arrival at the target area the aircraft was intercepted by an enemy fighter but Flight Lieutenant Watts coolly and skilfully guided his captain down through an intense barrage and the fighter was unable to follow. The objective was then attacked from an extremely low level. The following night when attacking the same objective, Flight Lieutenant Watts distinguished himself by his brilliant navigation." He served in North Africa joining 462 Squadron on it's formation in 1942. On 11th November 1942 he was flying in Halifax DT498 which was hit by flak and abandoned off Tobruk, he swam ashore and hid behind German lines and was found by an advancing Army unit and returned to Allied lines (F/Sgt Guertin of Halifax L9619 at Keld fame survived this same indident and became a PoW). He later served with 109 Squadron and was awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944 and the DSO, Gazetted on 27th April 1945.
Franklin Falkoski also served with 462 Squadron in North Africa in late 1942 receiving a commission with effect of 17th September 1942 but after December 1942 nothing more is known of him.
If the Sgt O'Connor listed above was Sgt T R O'Connor then he later served with 10/227 Squadron and 462 Squadron later in 1942.
Thomas Godfrey received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 29th May 1941 and was promoted to F/O on 29th May 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron while in the rank of Acting F/Lt, Gazetted on 4th August 1942. He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 21st November 1942 and was later awarded the Bar to DFC for service with 156 Squadron, Gazetted on 8th December 1944 while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr. Postwar he remained in the RAFVR transferring to the RAF on 1st July 1946 and was promoted to S/Ldr on 1st January 1955. In June 1963 he was granted an MBE on the Queen's Birthday Honours List and he retired on 18th March 1969.