Halifax W7855 damaged by "friendly fire", returned to Melbourne airfield.
On the night of 23rd / 24th October 1942 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 18.20hrs to undertake the operational flight to bomb Genoa, Italy. Just before reaching the target and roughly in the area around Lake Geneva a Halifax which had been following this one for some 150 miles overtook their aircraft, soon after overtaking the other aircraft fired a burst of machine gun fire into the front of this aircraft slightly wounding the second pilot in the side. Despite this the crew of W7855 attacked the target area at 22.19hrs through thick cloud cover but identifying the target by fires already burning there. They made a safe return to Yorkshire and landed at Melbourne at 02.55hrs. The second pilot's full details were not listed in the squadron record book and he was probably flying with this crew for operational experience, probably coming towards the end of his training with one of the Conversion Flights in operation around this time. Shortly after this friendly-fire incident he flew as a second pilot with another 10 Squadron crew.
Pilot - P/O Stanley Alan Somerscales RAFVR (136222).
Second Pilot - P/O Robert Dickson Johnstone RAFVR (123522). Slightly injured.
Navigator - Sgt James Hubert Lewis RAF (656546).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Joseph Edward Hounam RAFVR (1065852).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Howard Reavill RAFVR (1185888).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Shannon RAAF (411231).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Sidney William Stephen RAFVR (971362).
Air Gunner - Sgt William Bramwell RAFVR (977402).
Stanley Somerscales was granted a commission (136222) on 8th September 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation, rising to F/O on probation on 8th March 1943. He was in the rank of Acting S/Ldr by April 1944. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943 and the citation for his DFC must mention the incident to Halifax DG230 which saw Bramwell awarded the DFM, it reads.."It is characteristic of this officer's flying ability that he never flew on an operational sortie in the role of second pilot. On his first sortie the main hydraulic pipe-line burst shortly after taking off and one engine failed, but Pilot Officer Somerscales continued on his mission and bombed the target, returning with the bombs doors open. Returning from Bremen on another occasion this officer's aircraft was attacked for 15 minutes by six enemy fighters, and although the bomber was hit, he succeeded in flying it back to base. Later, in September 1942, his aircraft was hit and badly damaged by shells. At the same time a Messerschmitt 110 attacked from astern and inflicted further damage before being shot down into the sea after an encounter lasting ten minutes. Pilot Officer Somerscales is a courageous and skilful captain of aircraft."
Sidney Stephen received a commission on 3rd September 1943 to P/O on probation (157576), he was promoted to F/O on 3rd March 1944 and F/Lt on 3rd September 1945.
James Lewis also received the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. He had received a commission to P/O on probation on 13th February 1943 (145176) and was promoted to F/O on 13th August 1943 and F/Lt on 13th February 1945.
John Reavill was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. He received a commission on 2nd April 1943 to P/O on probation (144164) rising to F/O on 2nd October 1943 and F/Lt on 2nd April 1945. He relinquished his commission on the grounds of ill-health on 19th December 1945.
Halifax W7855 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was immediately taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 18th September 1942 and as a result of the damage sustained on 24th October 1942 minor Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment. It was repaired on site at Melbourne. The date of transfer to 51 Squadron at Snaith is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78 but it was probably around the time 51 Squadron began equipping with the type of Halifax in November 1942. It was badly damaged on 25th February 1943 at Snaith when it swung on landing and the undercarriage collapsed. After assessment Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on 26th February 1943.
William Bramwell was born in Lancashire in 1917 and was working as a grocer when he joined the RAFVR in 1940. He appears to have flown his first operational flight while still training at 19 OTU during the Thousand Bomber raid in mid-1942, he was later posted to 10 Squadron in July 1942. On the night of 26th/27th September 1942 he flying in Halifax DG230 with the same crew as listed above, their aircraft was attacked by a night-fighter, he returned fire and shot it down. For his actions he was awarded an immediate DFM, Gazetted on 20th November 1942. He completed a Tour with 10 Squadron and was then posted to instruct. He received his commission on 11th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (142843) and was later promoted to F/O on 11th September 1943 and to F/Lt on 11th March 1945. He begun a second Tour in February 1944 with 156 Squadron and for service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944. The recommendation for his DFC, as located by Hugh Halliday, reads.."Flying Officer Bramwell has completed 55 operational sorties, 31 of which have been with the Path Finder Force, including 29 Marker sorties. He was awarded the immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Medal after his eighth sortie. Some of the targets attacked have been heavily contested areas of Germany and Italy. This officer is an outstanding Gunner in a crew which have carried out Master Bomber duties on eight occasions, both by day and by night. His vigilance and efficient directions to his pilot have been contributory to many successful evasions of enemy aircraft. He has been at grips with the enemy on many occasions, and proved himself to be a most cool and resolute Gunner. He has set an example of keenness and devotion to duty of a very high standard to other Gunners in the Squadron, and I strongly recommend him for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross." He reliquished his commission on the grounds of being medically unfit on 30th December 1945. His medal set sold at auction in 2002.
Somerscales, Lewis, Reavill and Hounam all arrived at 10 Squadron from 19 OTU on 9th July 1942. By April 1944 Somerscales, Lewis, Reavill and Stephen were posted to 76 Squadron and were undertaking a second Tour. They were flying together on 23rd April 1944 in Halifax MZ578 on Ops to Dusseldorf when the aircraft was damaged by an enemy aircraft. The crew abandoned the aircraft at 19,500 feet and it crashed near Gulpen, south east of Maastricht. Somerscales died as a result of the incident, he was twenty six years old and is buried in Maastricht General Cemetery, Holland. Reavill and Stephen became PoW's while Lewis evaded capture and returned to Britain. A memorial is now on the crash site.
Robert Johnstone was flying with this 10 Squadron crew for operational experience prior to beginning operational flying with his own crew. He was probably coming to the end of his conversion training at 1652 HCU at the time. Most of his Halifax-trained 51 Squadron crew were posted in to 51 Squadron from 1652 HCU in January 1943 though his posting in is not listed in the squadron ORB the dates fit with 51 Squadron aquiring new aircrew trained on Halifaxes after they re-equipped replacing their Whitleys at the end of 1942. He and his crew flew their his first operational flight with 51 Squadron on 18th February 1942. He was awarded an immediate DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 23rd April 1943 for his actions on 3rd / 4th April 1943 piloting Halifax DT686. His aircraft was badly shot about by a Junkers Ju88 injuring some of the crew and he was able to bring the damaged aircraft back to the UK and make a safe landing. He sadly died at the young age of 54 in March 1974. I thank his son for kindly contacting me and the additional information he was able to provide.