Wellington Z8420 damaged by flak, landed at Driffield airfield.
During the early hours of 7th April 1942 this aircraft was one of a number of 158 Squadron Wellingtons that were tasked with flying operational flights to bomb Essen. This aircraft took off from Driffield at 00.16hrs and released their bomb load from 17,000 feet. The aircraft sustained minor flak damage, listed in the squadron records as to the port wing, port fuseland near the rear turret, the starboard flap and the tailplane. The crew safely returned to Driffield and landed at around 06.00hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Ivor Terrence Chambers RAF. 124627.
Second Pilot - P/O Kelly.
Observer - Sgt William Albert Thomas RAFVR (130101).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Eric Leslie Lister RAFVR (922351).
Wireless Operator - Sgt ?
Air Gunner - Sgt Douglas Arthur Redler RAFVR (1169796)
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 Thomas was later killed with 158 Squadron on 10th September 1942 when Halifax W7745 was detailed to attack Düsseldorf and it disappeared over the North Sea. 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) and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) six months later. As Acting F/Lt he was killed whilst flying 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.
Sgt Redler was killed flying with 158 Squadron on 20th July 1942 when Halifax W1162 failed to return from Ops to Vegasack. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Wellington Z8420 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in October 1941. It was initially received by 8 MU on 2nd October 1941 and taken on charge by 104 Squadron on 11th October 1941. The following day it was transferred to 405 Squadron. It was transferred back to 104 Squadron on 10th January 1942 and was the transferred to 158 Squadron when they formed on 14th February 1942 at Driffield from 'C-Flight" of 104 Squadron. On 7th April 1942 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA flak damage which was then repaired on site and it was returned to 158 Squadron four days later. As a result of the flak damage on 9th May 1942 the damage assessment was deemed as minor Cat.A/FB damage and it was repaired on site. On 23rd May it was transferred to 12 Squadron at Binbrook but then sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident on 28th May 1942. Another repair on site was made and it was returned to 12 Squadron on 6th June 1942. The aircraft was lost on 22th July 1942 when it failed to return from ops to Duisburg with its then crew of five being all killed. Cat.Em damage was recorded.