Halifax W1221 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 5th / 6th August 1942 the crew of this 158 Squadron Halifax were tasked with undertaking an operational flight to attack Bochum. They took off from East Moor at 22.15hrs and released their bomb load on target markers from 15,000 feet at 01.07hrs. During the course of when it was hit by flak and both inner engines, both wings and the fuselage sustained damage. The aircraft landed safely back at East Moor at 03.40hrs.
Pilot - P/O Ivor Terrence Chambers RAFVR (124627).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Geoffrey Archie Smith RAF (569386).
Navigator - Sgt William Albert Thomas RAFVR (130101).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Eric Leslie Lister RAFVR (922351).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James George Edward Davis RAFVR (1375106).
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Byrne RAFVR.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Eric Davies RAFVR (1287874).
Ivor Chambers received a commission on an unknown date and was awarded the DFC for service with 158 Squadron (Gazetted on 6th November 1942) but no citation has been found. He rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 18th November 1943 (which usually was six months after commission) and rose to F/Lt (war subs) on 18th May 1944. He was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 142 Squadron (Gazetted on 21st September 1945). He had done his first tour being the pilot of Wellington and Halifax aircraft with 158 Squadron and his second tour was with 142 Squadron flying Moquitoes. 142 Squadron was a specialist Light Night Striking Force formed with Pathfinders. Having survived the War and sixty eight operational flights he remained in the RAF in the Post-War years. On 11th January 1954 he was appointed to a permanent commission, with the rank of F/Lt. He retired from the RAF on 11th January 1964. His grandson appeared in the Channel 4 television series "Bomber Crew" in the late 2000's.
Sgt Davis, Sgt Smith and Sgt Thomas were later killed in action on 10th September 1942 when Halifax W7745 was detailed to attack Düsseldorf and it disappeared over the North Sea.
Davis and Smith have no known grave (Sgt Davis was aged twenty three). The body of Sgt Thomas was recovered and is buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium. He was aged
twenty one years old.
Eric Lister received a commission on 23rd August 1942 to P/O on probation (emergency). He rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 23rd February 1943. As Acting F/Lt he was killed
in action whilst flying a second Tour with 431 Squadron on 4th December 1943 when Halifax LK898 crashed in Germany on Ops to Leipzig. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery and was twenty
two years old.
Halifax W1221 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. The aircraft was first taken on charge by 158 Squadron at East Moor on 19th July 1942 where it received the squadron code "NP-R". On 6th August 1942 it suffered minor damage on Ops to Duisburg that resulted in Cat.Ac/FB damage being the damage assessment. A repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 158 Squadron at East Moor on 1st September 1942 but its squadron code was then changed to "NP-B". On 2nd October 1942 it sustained flak damage on an operational flight to Krefeld. Cat.Ac/FB damage was again the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. 158 Squadron moved to Rufforth on 6th November 1942 and five days later the aircraft was returned to them, again the squadron code changed, to "NP-M" this time. On 28th February 1943 158 Squadron moved to Lissett. It sustained flak damage on 28th March 1943 on an operational flight to Berlin. Cat.Ac/FB damage was again the damage assessment and it was again repaired on site with it being returned to 158 Squadron on 29th May 1943. On it's return the squadron code was changed to "NP-H". On 14th September 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wigsley. On 30th September 1943 it was transferred to 1668 HCU and then to 1656 HCU on 28th November 1943. On 6th January 1944 and again on 20th February 1944 it received Cat.Ac/FA damage assessments, whether this relates to damage sustained in flying accidents or found during inspections is not known. On 13th August 1944 it received a Cat.B assessment during an inspection but it was not repaired. The aircraft was struck off charge on 1st September 1944.