In the early hours of 24th July 1942 the crew of this 405 Squadron aircraft were returning from an operational flight to Duisburg and were going in for a landing at Pocklington airfield just after Halifax W7769 had crashed into New Street, Pocklington. The crew of this aircraft became distracted by the fire on the ground and forgot to lower the undercarriage. The aircraft belly-landed at base at 04.55hrs and was damaged.
Pilot - Sgt William Smith RAFVR (1382139).
Navigator - F/Sgt John Victor Potter RCAF (R/70841).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Albert Knox RAF (575307).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Wood RAFVR (1058548).
Air Gunner - Sgt Richard Alexander Myers RCAF (R/65987).
Air Gunner - Sgt Henry Patrick Gover RAF (798450).
? - Sgt McGregor.
On 27th July 1942 the first five named above were flying Halifax W1230 on Ops to Hamburg when it was badly damaged. Sgt Myers baled out and became a PoW but everyone else was killed. Sgt Smith is buried at Becklingen Cemetery while the others are buried at Kiel War Cemetery, Germany.
On 10th August 1942 Sgt Gover was flying in Halifax W7709 on Ops to Osnabruck when the aircraft crashed in Holland. He is buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery.
Halifax W1112 was built to contract B.9892938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Pocklington on 17th May 1942. As a result of flak damage on 31st May 1942 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to the unit. On 24th July 1942 it was belly landed in error on return from Ops and sustained Cat.B/FB damage. The damage was re-assessed the following day and was downgraded to Re-Cat.Ac/FA damage and was repaired on site. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was returned to 405 Squadron on 20th October 1942. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was transferred to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit on 12th April 1943 at Topcliffe. On 27th March 1944 the undercarriage collapsed on landing at Topcliffe and the aircraft came to rest badly damaged. After assessment it was deemed beyond repair, Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 7th April 1944.
Back to monthly table.