Halifax W1116 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.

On the night of 10th / 11th September 1942 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to Dusseldorf and took off from Pocklington at 20.14hrs. They bombed the target at 22.33hrs but did not see the bursts due to haze. The aircraft sustained flak damage in the wings and bomb doors but the pilot was able to make a safe return to Pocklington and they landed at 01.23hrs.

Pilot - F/O James Arnold Harrison RNZAF (NZ.404870).

Navigator - Sgt J Griffiths.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt George Robert Kent RAFVR (1172575).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Sidney Hubert Ewen RAFVR (1262225).

Air Gunner - Sgt J R Sands (Possibly Sgt Jack Richard Sands RAFVR (1577824)).

Flight Engineer - Sgt J Kirkpatrick (possibly Sgt John Kirkpatrick RAF (816157))?.

Air Gunner - Sgt Oswald Drury Culverwell RAFVR (962422).

Halifax W1116 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection on 22nd May 1942. It was received by 45 MU on 26th May 1942 and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 7th June 1942. On 16th June 1942 it received damage in a flying accident that saw Cat.Ac/FA damage be the damage assessment. How this damage happened is not known. A repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 10 Squadron on 2nd July 1942. There is no mention of the aircraft or any damage in the 10 Squadron orb until it was first used operationally by them on 26th July 1942. 10 Squadron then moved to Melbourne on 19th August 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 11th September 1942 minor Cat.A/FB damaged was the result of the assessment and it was repaired on site. It was then lost with 10 Squadron on 3rd October 1942 when it failed to return from an operational flight. Cat.E/(m) damage was recorded and it was struck off charge on 4th October 1942.
George Kent received a commission on 11th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (143587). He was awarded the DFM for his service prior to his commission with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943. He was promoted to F/O on probation on 11th September 1943 and F/Lt on 11th March 1945 and was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th April 1945.
Sgt Ewen was posted to 10 Squadron during May 1942 and left for 1658 HCU on 5th February 1943. He was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted during May 1943.
Sgt Kirkpatrick was later posted to 1652 HCU on 5th February 1943. He was possibly a Sgt John Kirkpatrick and if so he received a commission on 5th April 1943 and was promoted to F/O on 5th October 1943. He was then awarded the DFC on for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th September 1944. He was serving with 171 Squadron by December 1944 and on 9th December 1944 he was flying in Halifax NA674 when the aircraft crashed in Germany. All on board were killed, he was twenty five years old and is now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Oswald Culverwell was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th February 1943. He was later posted to 434 Squadron but died on 29th January 1944 while flying Ops to Berlin in Halifax LK740 when the aircraft was shot down by flak. He was twenty three years old and is buried in Berlin War Cemetery. Why he was still in the same rank of Sergeant well over a year after this flak incident in September 1942 is not known. Alan Soderstrom's 434 Squadron website has a good article on this loss.
If Sgt Sands was Jack Sands then he was posted 78 Squadron by 29th March 1943. On this date he baled out of Halifax W7939 over the Malton area before the aircraft crashed near North Grimston. Jack Sands received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 16th January 1944 (but notification was not published in the London Gazette until April 1944). He was awarded the DFC for service with 78 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th June 1944. He rose to F/O (wars subs) on 16th July 1944 and survived the War.
The pilot James Harrison was born in Hastings on 28th September 1914. Prior to enlisting he was a farmer. His RNZAF service began on 30th November 1940 and he was de-mobbed on 15th September 1945. During this time he was awarded the DFC and DSO and served with 77 Squadron, 10 Squadron and 76 Squadron. Colin Hanson's book 'By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999' states that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Gazetted on 8th March 1943, and while serving with 10 Squadron and it mentions a flak incident on 4th/5th September 1942. The earlier crash refers to an accident to Whitley Z9221 on Kirby Malzeard Moor while serving with 77 Squadron, the citation reads.."In March 1942, this officer was involved in a serious crash and sustained head injuries, a broken arm and crushed foot. Undeterred by the experience, Flight Lieutenant Harrison returned to operational duties immediately on his discharge from hospital and has since taken part in numerous sorties in the face of severe enemy opposition. Over Dusseldorf in September 1942, his aircraft was held by searchlights and badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. In November, 1942, whilst returning from Turin, his aircraft was repeatedly attacked by an enemy fighter which was eventually destroyed by his rear gunner. Throughout all his operations this officer has displayed exemplary determination and a grim resolution in seeking out and bombing his target. His fine leadership has been an inspiration to the squadron. On the night of 27/28 Mar 1942, when returning in bad weather from a raid on St Nazaire, his aircraft crashed on the Yorkshire moors. His navigator was killed. Although suffering from head injuries, a broken arm and a crushed foot Flt Lt Harrison dragged his unconscious wireless operator from the burning aircraft before collapsing himself. After five months in hospital he returned to operational flying." The Citation for his Distinguished Service Order from 17th November 1944, for service with 76 Squadron also flying Halifax's reads.. "Squadron Leader Harrison has completed two tours of operational duty during which he has attacked a wide variety of targets many of them far into enemy territory. He has set a magnificent example of skill, gallantry and devotion to duty, qualities which have been well illustrated in the high standard of operational efficiency of the flight he commands. On a recent occasion, Squadron Leader Harrison led a large formation of aircraft on an attack against Scholven Buer. By his outstanding skill this officer contributed in good measure to the good results obtained." He died in Waipukurau, in Hawkes Bay province on 12th August 1998.

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