On the night of 6th / 7th July 1942 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a mine laying flight and left Breighton at 22.22hrs. The mines were dropped from 800 feet but the aircraft was hit by flak in the wing in the region of the starboard flap. A safe return to base at 06.17hrs.
Pilot - Sgt William Richard Martin RAAF (404837), of Kairi, Queensland, Australia.
Navigator - Sgt Ian Robert Richardson RAAF (401246), born Preston, Victoria, Australia.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Thomas Lonsdale RAAF (403273), of Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt "A E Macrae"? (Probably Sgt Alexander William MacRae RAAF (401312), born Learmonth, Victoria, Australia.)
Rear Gunner - Sgt Reginald George Cox RAAF (402589), of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Wellington Z1400 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in December 1941. It was received by 23 MU on 15th December 1941 and was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 14th May 1942 as a replacement for Z1290 which was lost on Ops to Kiel on 29th April 1942. It sustained minor flak damage on 19th June 1942 (Cat.A/FB) and was repaired at Breighton, it was then damaged again by flak on 25th / 26th June 1942 (Cat.A/FB) and was again repaired on site at Breighton. Neither of these two first flak incidents appear on the aircraft's AM Form 78. It was again damaged by flak on the night of 6th / 7th July 1942 and was repaired on site. The aircraft's AM Form 78 records that on 17th July 1942 it received a Cat.Ac/FA damage assessment but the squadron records do no mention what must have been a minor flying accident. No further details surrounding this are yet known. The aircraft was repaired on site and was returned to 460 Squadron on 25th July 1942. The aircraft was then slightly damaged again on 29th August 1942 to Cat.Ac/FB status when it overshot on landing at Manston on return from Ops. The damage was again repaired on site by a team from Fairfields and it was returned to 460 Squadron at Breighton on 10th October 1942. The aircraft was transferred to 300 Squadron at Ingham on 17th Octiber 1942. In January 1943 300 Squadron began conversion to Wellington MkIII's and the aircraft had a repair in works done at Sywell. On 21st March 1943 it was flown to 38 MU and was then taken on charge by 104 O.T.U. at Nutts Corner on 5th May 1943. On 8th January 1944 it bounced on landing, left the runway and ground looped. The damage was assessed on site as being Cat.B/FA but was then re-assessed a month later on 1st February 1944 and was written off with Re-Cat.E damage. It was then struck off charge.
William Martin was born on 6th January 1921 in Atherton, Queensland and enlisted in Brisbane on 6th December 1940, he was involved in farming at the time of enlisting. He was awarded the Wings on 25th September 1941 and on arrival in the UK was posted to 27 OTU on 18th November 1941 before posting to 20 OTU on 4th May 1942 and posting to 460 Squadron on 20th June 1942. He later transferred to 466 Squadron on 14th December 1942. On 14th/15th February 1943 he was flying in Wellington HE153 on Ops to Cologne, on the return to the UK the aircraft crashed at Warter Priory near Pocklington, Yorkshire. Sadly one of the crew died and he and the others on board sustained serious injuries. He was initially treated at York Military Hospital before transfer to Rauceby. He returned to operational flying after release from hospital and later received his commission on 24th April 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. For service with 466 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on. The citation reads.."Throughout his operational career, P/O Martin has displayed impressive courage and quiet determination. He has efficiently attacked a wide variety of enemy targets and flown on mine-laying operations. Although seriously injured in a crash, upon his recovery this officer resumed operational flying with undiminished enthusiasm and has since taken part in sorties against many heavily defenced objectives in the Ruhr area. At all times his conduct has been highly commendable." He was posted to instruct at 27 OTU on 13th July 1943 and rose to F/O on 24th October 1943 but was posted back to Australia before the end of the War and discharged on 3rd July 1945.
Ian Richardson was born on 26th December 1915 in Preston, Victoria and enlisted in Melbourne. He was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 14th May 1943 for service with 460 Squadron but not presented until 14th March 1944 at Buckingham Palace. He was later awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 6th June 1944.
Alexander MacRae was born on 3rd March 1911 in Learmonth, Victoria and enlisted in Melbourne. For service with 460 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 14th May 1943. He was presented with the DFM at Buckingham Palace on 30th November 1943.
Ronald Lonsdale was born on 13th September 1915 at Hurlstone Park, New South Wales, he enlisted on 5th January 1941 in Sydney and was working as an insurance clerk at the time. After training in Canada he arrived in the UK and was posted to 27 OTU on arrival in the UK on 14th January 1942 followed by a spell at 20 OTU from 4th May 1942 before posting to 460 Squadron on 20th June 1942. There is no record of his converting to fly Lancasters from Wellingtons on his service records but this must have occured, probably with 1656 CU as was common with 460 Squadron aircrew. On 4th January 1945 F/Sgt Lonsdale was flying in Lancaster W4274 on Ops to Essen. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near Hatert, Nijmegen, Holland. He was twenty seven years old and is buried in Uden War Cemetery, Holland.
Robert Cox was born on 31st May 1915 in Kogarah, New South Wales and enlisted in Sydney. F/Sgt Cox was killed on 22nd September 1942 while converting to fly in the four engined heavy bombers. He was the rear gunner of Halifax W1272 that crashed near Catterton, Tadcaster, Yorkshire with the loss of the four crew. He is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire and was twenty seven years old.