Halifax W7859 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.

On the night of 15th / 16th October 1942 this 158 squadron aircraft was flying on a raid on Cologne and just after leaving the target area the aircraft was hit by flak in the fuselage. One of the port side engines also failed which resulted in the return trip being made on three engines. A safe landing was made back at East Moor at 00.40hrs.

Pilot - Sgt Maynard Meyer Caplan RAFVR (1282511).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Arthur Alfred Frederick RAF (569385).

Navigator - Sgt Alfred Gerald Fleet RAFVR (1217597).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt James Robert Laws RCAF, of Parkhill, Ontario, Canada.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Clayton Stait (1305118).

Air Gunner - Sgt Alfred Corpe RAFVR (1376932).

Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Maxim Daubon RAFVR (943286).

Halifax W7859 was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was delivered directly to 158 Squadron at East Moor on 18th September 1942. It suffered Cat.A/FB battle damage on 16th October 1942. It was repaired on site by 23rd October 1942 and moved with unit to Rufforth on 6th November 1942. On 16th November 1942 it ran out of fuel during an operational flight to Genova, the crew tried to land at Gatwick but it crashed at Cuckfield, Sussex. Four of the seven crew were injured and the aircraft was badly damaged. After assessment Cat.E/FB damage saw the aircraft struck off charge on 16th November 1942.

Maynard Caplan received a commission on 6th February 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O (war subs) on 6th August 1943. He was awarded the DFM in May 1943, after his commission but for work done before his commission. The citation has been located in Flight Magazine under the headline "Three-engined Expert", the citation reads.. "F/Sgt Caplan has just completed a most successful tour of operations, during which he has taken part in bombing attacks against targets in Germany and Italy, often in the face of intense fighter opposition and heavy ground defences. On three occasions this airman has brought his aircraft safely back to base on three engines, and he has also obtained some excellent photographs." He was posted for instructional duties after completing his Tour but was sadly killed on 7th September 1943 when Halifax DT524, of 1658 HCU, crashed near Howden, Yorkshire. He is buried at East Ham (Marlow Road) Jewish Cemetery. He was also Mentioned in Despatches after his death with a huge number of service personnel on 14th January 1944. Maynard Caplan and his crew were involved in another incident on 23rd October 1942 when Halifax DT521 was damaged by night fighters and they probably returned to East Moor airfield to land.
Arthur Frederick received a commission on 5th April 1943 to P/O on probation and rose to F/O on probation on 5th October 1943. He was lost on 13th September 1944 when 640 Squadron Halifax MZ912 failed to return from Ops to Gelsenkirchen, crashing at Bottrop. He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, and was twenty four years old.
Alfred Fleet received a commission on 11th February 1943 to P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O on probation (war subs) on 11th August 1943. He was lost when 105 Squadron Mosquito LR477 crashed near Narborough, near Swaffham, Norfolk, on return from Ops to Leverkusen on 23rd November 1943. He is buried in Bradford (Bowling) Cemetery, Yorkshire. His then pilot P/O E Wade was the holder of the BEM and was also killed in the crash and is buried in Keighley, Yorkshire.
Sgt James Laws RCAF survived the War and gained the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar; the first was whilst serving with 158 Squadron (award effective 6th August 1943). He was born in Parkhill, Ontario in 1918 and prior to enlisting his home was in Sarnia where he worked as a lab assistant. He enlisted in London, Ontario 18th December 1940 and he had formerly been in Royal Canadian Artillery. He was commissioned November 1942. He was invested with the DFC at Buckingham Palace on 7th November 1944, the Citation reads.."Pilot Officer Laws has taken part in a large number of operational sorties against some of the enemy's most heavily defended targets including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Turin, Genoa, Stettin, Cologne, Essen and Dortmund. Undoubtedly the excellent results obtained by his crew were largely due to the skill and determination of this officer to press his attacks home regardless of the heaviest enemy opposition. As assistant bombing leader the high standard of efficiency of the bomb aimers in the squadron is directly attributable to the untiring efforts and enthusiasm of Pilot Officer Laws." Later in the War he was posted to 640 Squadron where he gained the Bar to the DFC on 5th April 1945 (presented 28th May 1947). The Citation reads.."Flight Lieutenant Laws has now completed a second tour of operations which has included attacks against such major targets as Magdeburg, Duisburg, Essen and Hamburg and others in support of our front line troops. At all times he has shown a fine fighting spirit and the utmost courage and determination in the face of enemy opposition. During a daylight attack against Munster in September 1944, the aircraft in which he was flying was hit by anti-aircraft fire. One engine failed and shell fragments penetrated the bomb aimer's compartment. Undeterred, Flight Lieutenant Laws bombed the target with cool determination which earned him the admiration and confidence of all his crew."
John Stait received a commission on 6th February 1943 to P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O on probation (war subs) on 6th August 1943 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 6th February 1945. He survived the War.
Arthur Daubon received a commission on 11th July 1943 to P/O on probation (emergency) rising to F/O (war subs) on 11th January 1944. He transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 16th February 1944. He left the RAF on 1st June 1945 on the grounds of "ill health", whether this was down to an aircraft accident is not yet known. It is likely that he was once known as Arthur Dawborn and changed his name by deed-poll on 16th August 1943. At this date his home address was Thayer Street, St.Marylebone, London.

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