Halifax W1052 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 8th / 9th May 1942 the crew on board this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Warnemunde and left Leeming at 21.51hrs, they were attacked by an enemy fighter and although the Halifax evaded further attacks the aircraft had sustained damage. Because of the damage the crew opted to bomb Sylt at 01.30hrs from 14.000ft but five minutes later the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers Ju88 which cannon fire struck the starboard inner engine causing damage to petrol pipes, the main starboard tyre and a glycol radiator. The gunners returned fire and the night fighter was driven off and in spite of the damage the crew were able to bring the aircraft back to Leeming and land at 04.00hrs.

Pilot - WO Donald Joseph O'Driscoll RCAF (R/65084), of St.Johns, Newfoundland.

Observer - P/O John Raymond Francis Ganderton RNZAF (NZ.403599), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.

Wireless Operator - F/Sgt John Murray McLaughlan RCAF (R/53875).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Reid.

Mid Upper Gunner - F/Sgt P Ellison.

Rear Gunner - Sgt Victor Leslie Wiles RAFVR (939729).

Flight Engineer - Sgt S Oakford.

Halifax W1052 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd., and was awaiting collection on 30th March 1942. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 2nd April 1942. On 29th April 1942 it was slightly damaged on Ops that injured two of the crew though they landed safely at Lossiemouth. Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was swiftly repaired. As a result of minor damage on 9th May 1942 Cat.A/FB damage was the result that saw it repaired on site. On 28th June 1942 it was transferred to 102 Squadron. On 24th July 1942 it was slightly damaged at Topcliffe when the tail wheel broke off after landing due to a faulty part. Cat.Ac/FA damage may have been the damage assessment though it is not listed on the aircraft's AM Form 78 suggesting it may have been only Cat.A. A repair on site would have been made. In the 102 Squadron record books they were still flying it operationally in November 1942 but they also list it as being lost on Ops on 8th December 1942 (which is an error). It passed to the newly formed 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Leeming on 17th November 1942. On 3rd December 1942 it sustained this more serious mishap at Leeming and Cat.B/FA damage was an initial assessment but it was then Re-Cat.E/FA and was struck off charge on 8th December 1942.
F/O John Ganderton was killed on 2nd June 1942 flying in Halifax W1143 which was a 78 Squadron aircraft being flown by a 10 Squadron crew. It crashed in Holland with just one survivor. John Ganderton was twenty seven years old and is commemorated in the Runnymede Memorial.
O'Driscoll, Wiles, Oakford, McLaughlan ditched Halifax W1045 off Devon on return from Ops to Dortmund on 15th April 1942 while serving with 10 Squadron. Donald O'Driscoll was recommended for an immediate DFC in May 1942, possibly as a result of his actions on this night detailed above. This DFC was not approved but he was later Mentioned in Despatches on 2nd June 1943. of St.Johns, Newfoundland. O'Driscoll, Wiles, Oakford, McLaughlan were part of the 10 Squadron detachment that were posted to North Africa later in 1942 and flew there in Halifax W7695 but ditched it off Alexandria on flight to North Africa on 9th July 1942 with OADU. On the 3rd / 4th August 1942 O'Driscoll, Wiles and Simpson were flying together on an operational flight with 10/227 Squadron to attack Tobruk in Halifax W7776 when the aircraft was damaged by flak over the target. The rear gunner Sgt Wiles received serious injuries as a result of the flak and sadly died in hospital soon after the aircraft returned to base and is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt. He was twenty four years old.

On 29th September 1942 Sgt Oakford was on board Halifax W1176 on Ops to bomb Tobruk harbour when the two port engines failed, his then pilot force landed in the desert but all survived. A Sgt S Oakford RAF (523504) would serve with 466 Squadron in 1944 and it is possible that both men were one and the same.

On 30th September 1942 O'Driscoll was the pilot of 462 Squadron Halifax W7672 on an airtest when the aircraft was belly landed, in jumping clear of the aircraft he landed heavily and broke his leg.

Sgt McLaughlan survived the crash of 10 Squadron Whitley T4234 on Widdale Fell, near Hawes in 1941 but sustained injuries. He recovered and later converted to fly Halifaxes with 10 Squadron. He was also posted to 10/227 Squadron in North Africa in Summer 1942 and then posted to 462 Squadron on its formation also in North Africa later in the year 1942. Sgt McLaughlan received a commission with effect of 17th September 1942 (J/16095). On Christmas Day 1942 462 Squadron received notification that all personnel were to be posted back to the UK as Tour Expired aircrew and after this his later postings are not yet known.

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