Halifax W1063 at Croft airfield.
On the night of 8th / 9th June 1942 this 78 Squadron aircraft was to undertake an operational flight to Essen but the tail wheel broke when the aircraft was landing following an air-test earlier in the day at 20.14hrs on the 8th June 1942. The tail wheel mounting casting was faulty, this was a common problem with early Halifaxes.
Pilot - F/O Patrick Nilus McEvoy RAF (46123).
Navigator - P/O Robert Irwin Trickett RCAF (J/5678).
? - Sgt Hughes (Probably Sgt Thomas Elwyn Hughes RAFVR (992584)).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner ? - F/Sgt Johnston.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Douglas Francis John Lemon RAF (562989).
Air Gunner - Sgt Walter Edward Dunhill RAF(AAF) (804266).
Thomas Hughes received a commission on 22nd May 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(128705) and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 22nd November 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 78 Squadron, Gazetted on 12th January 1943. He was later promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 22nd May 1944.
Sgt Lemon was still serving with 78 Squadron on the night of 11th / 12th August 1942 when he failed to return from Ops in Halifax W1115. He was made a PoW.
Robert Trickett later served with 35 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 12th March 1943. He later returned to Canada and trained as a pilot, rising to command 412 Squadron post-war.
Patrick McEvoy was also posted to 35 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 12th January 1943.
Sgt Dunhill was later posted to 35 Squadron, as F/Sgt he was awarded the DFM for service with them, the citation reads.. "F/Sgt Dunhill has continually evinced a spirit of efficiency and cheerfulness throughout the many sorties against the enemy in which he has participated. As air gunner, his thorough knowledge of his work, his skill, and unfailing eagerness for combat, have been an example to others." He later received a commission to the rank of P/O on 4th August 1943 (155828) and was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 4th February 1944 and F/Lt (war subs) on 4th August 1945.
Halifax W1063