Unidentified Halifax damaged by enemy aircraft, landed at Melbourne airfield.

On the night of the 2nd / 3rd October 1943 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft took off from Melbourne airfield at around 18.00hrs with the crew briefed to drop mines. During the course of the night the aircraft was attacked by a Ju88 and received minor damage. Despite the damage to the Halifax the crew made a safe landing back at Melbourne at 00.20hrs.

Pilot - F/Sgt Henry Edward Morgan Plant RAAF (413249).

Navigator - Sgt Stanley Kendal Blandford RAFVR (1393703).

Bomb Aimer - F/O James Cameron Pyne RAFVR (129151).

Wireless Operator - Sgt Arthur Blackburn Burton RAFVR (1047849).

Air Gunner - Sgt Laurence Stanley Smith RAAF (418489).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Leslie Williamson Noton RAFVR (1458872).

Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Joseph Paull RAAF (415912).

On the night of 22nd / 23rd October 1943 this crew were flying 10 Squadron Halifax HX174 on Ops to Kassel when the aircraft exploded near the target area. Six of the crew were killed in the resulting crash and are now buried at Hanover War Cemetery. F/O Pyne had probably jumped out of the aircraft and landed by parachute but then became a PoW.

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