Unidentified Wellingtons of 466 Squadron, damaged by flak.
On the night of 29th / 30th March 1943 466 Squadron undertook Ops to bomb Bockum, the squadron record book (AM Form 540) states that several aircraft were severely damaged
by flak however the AM Form 541 which lists each aircraft's details on the raid makes no reference to any aircraft being damaged. The same AM Form 540 states that the
following day; 30th March 1943, that three aircraft were still unservicable due to flak from the previous night's operation.
Wellingtons HE529, HZ279, HE411, HZ256, HE501, HE530, HE257, HE570, HE155 and HE154 were all the aircraft used by 466 Squadron that returned to base after bombing. The
damaged aircraft must have been some of these but to date no firm evidence of which ones have been found. HE530 was airtested on 4th April 1943 so is a candidate for one though it's AM Form 78 does not list any damage sustained on 30th March 1943.
Two other aircraft were involved in Ops with 466 Squadron on this night; HE506 (hydraulics failed, jettisoned bombs and returned to base.) and MS473 (starboard engine
constant speed unit failed, jettisoned bombs and returned to base). Both returned before reaching any area of enemy flak so cannot have been damaged this way.