On the night of 22nd / 23rd May 1942 this 460 Squadron aircraft took off from Breighton at 21.21hrs for a mine-laying flight but the crew were recalled early because of bad weather. The aircraft was still carrying the mines when it landed and on touching down at Breighton at 01.36hrs in bad visibility the aircraft landed on an incomplete part of the runway. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft on the available runway and the the port wheel then ran off the extension and into a ditch, it then overshot and collided with a bank of earth and a cement mixer at the end of the runway. The rear gunner sustained concussion and minor head injuries as a result of the mishap when he banged his head on the top of the rear turret. This crew had been involved in a flak incident in April 1942 in the same aircraft.
Pilot - P/O Frederick James Breen RAAF (402760), of Bockdale, New South Wales, Australia.
Navigator - F/O Allyn Clive Douglass RAAF (404374), of Sandgate, New South Wales, Australia.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Arthur Edward Frederick Stuart Jones RAAF (407103), of Renmark, South Australia.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Godfrey Gunner Morgan RAAF (400350), of Donald, Victoria, Australia.
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert David Cranston Munt RAAF (407392), of Adelaide, New South Wales, Australia. Injured.
Wellington Z1278 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in September 1941. It was received by 45 MU on 1st September 1941 and was taken on charge by 460 Squadron RAAF at Molesworth on 3rd December 1941. The aircraft moved to Breighton with the squadron on 4th January 1942 and sustained flak damage on the night of 15th / 16th April 1942. It must have received minor Cat.A/FB damage though there is no mention of the incident on the aircraft's AM Form 78. It was repaired on site and continued to be used by 460 Squadron until 22nd May 1942 when it was damaged after overshooting on landing at Breighton, Cat.B/FA damage was the assessment again and it was taken to the repair facility at Sywell. On 16th August 1942 it was received by 23 MU and was then taken on charge by 300 Squadron at Ingham. On 24th September 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 305 Squadron, based at Hemswell when they were converting from Wellington MkII's to MkIV's. On 7th December 1942 it was ditched on return from Ops to Mannheim, when it was hit by flak and the crew were forced to ditch off Littlehampton with the loss of two of the crew. The aircraft was struck off charge on 1st January 1943.
Frederick Breen was born on 3rd March 1918 in St.Peters, New South Wales. He enlisted in Sydney. On the night of 26th/27th July 1942 F/O Breen was pilot of Wellington Z1483 flying Ops to Hamburg. The aircraft failed to return and he is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, he was twenty four years old.
Godfrey Morgan was born on 19th May 1917 in Donald, Victoria. He enlisted in Melbourne on 18th August 1940. On arrival in the UK he trained at 20 OTU from 14th June 1942 and was posted to 57 Squadron on 1st September 1941 before tranferring to 460 Squadron on 10th February 1942. He was posted to 27 OTU on 17th July 1942, 26 OTU on 30th September 1942 and was then posted to India having re-mustered as an air gunner. He later joined 355 Squadron on 31st August 1943. His father became seriously ill in Summer 1944 and as Godfrey Morgan had completed one Tour he was asked if he would like to repatriated on compassionate grounds. He accepted and was back in Australia by July 1944 and received a discharge in May 1945.
Allyn Douglass was born on 19th January 1944 in Singleton, New South Wales. He enlisted in Melbourne. He was awarded the DFC for service with 109 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943 and presented to him at Buckingham Palace on 9th November 1943. He was clearly a top navigator and would have been hand picked to then join the Pathfinder Force. Having risen to S/Ldr he was awarded the DSO for service with 105 Squadron PFF flying in Mosquitos, Gazetted on 25th January 1944 but not presented to him in person. The citation for his DSO reads.. "Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has participated in a large number of sorties, involving operations in the battle of the Ruhr. He has displayed exceptional skill and his efforts have played a good part in the successes achieved in this phase of the attack on the enemy. He is a fine leader and his sterling qualities have inspired all." On 29th April 1944 he was flying in Oxford LW999 which crashed near Wallan, Victoria, Australia. He was killed and was later buried in Springvale War Cemetery, Melbourne. He was twenty five years old.
Arthur Jones was born on 17th February 1912 in Renmark, South Australia. He enlisted in Adelaide. He was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron, the citation reads.. "Sergeant Arthur Edward Frederick Stuart Jones, 460 Squadron, is a skillful and keen wireless operator/air gunner. He has participated in many sorties, including attacks on such targets as Le Havre, Cologne, Essen, Bremen, Duisburg and Wilhelmsberg. His excellent work has been of great assistance to his navigator". This medal was sold at auction in 1998.
Robert Munt was born on 25th January 1921 in Adelaide and enlisted there.