Wellington BJ652 damaged by flak, believed returned to Dishforth airfield.
On 23rd January 1943 the crew of this 425 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a daylight raid on Essen, they took off at 12.20hrs. This aircraft was slightly damaged by flak over Juist outbound, the crew turned round and made for home returning to England, and almost certainly landing without further incident at Dishforth, at 17.07hrs.
Pilot - S/Ldr George Albert Roy RCAF (C/1362).
? - P/O William Cameron Davidson RCAF (J/10328).
? - Sgt C Atkins.
? - P/O A B Boudreau RCAF.
? - Sgt J M D'Aoust RCAF.
? - P/O J D V Lariviere RCAF.
Post-War he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star in September 1947. He was also awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal on 28th October 1953
for his service with the RCAF Auxillary. By this date he was already working in his former career in Law and practiced in Montreal for some forty five years. He
died in Montreal in January 1988. Hugh Halliday's RCAF awards research has been drawn on in this biog as has Richard Koval's RCAF research.
George Roy was born in Paris, France in October 1914, he was the son of the Honourable Philippe Roy, Canada's first Minister to France at the time. After
attending school he trained in law. He enlisted into the RCAF in Montreal on 6th November 1939 and also received his commission in 1939. For service with 425
Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th May 1943, the citation reads.."Squadron Leader Roy is an outstanding captain of aircraft. He has taken part
in many raids on heavily defended targets such as Bremen, Essen and Cologne, and on every occasion has pressed home his attack with good effect. When detailed
for special reconnaissance work he has invariably produced accurate and thoroughly reliable reports. Squadron Leader Roy's good work and splendid example are
worthy of high praise." On 9th October 1944 he had risen to commanding officer of 424 Squadron, on this date he was the pilot of Halifax MZ802 "Gallopin' Gerty"
on Ops to Bochum when the aircraft was damaged by flak near Cologne, the crew baled out and the aircraft crashed near Neurath and six of the seven crew were
taken PoW. W/Co Roy sustained serious leg injuries which resulted in him having one leg amputated and he saw out the rest of the war as a PoW.
William Davidson was also posted to 424 Squadron and served in their detachment to North Africa. On 13th July 1943 he was posted as missing and is commemorated on the
Malta Memorial. He was twenty six years old.
Wellington BJ652 built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. It was initially received by 48 MU on 2nd July 1942 and was taken on charge by 425 Squadron at Dishforth on 8th July 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 23rd January 1943 Cat.A/FB was the assessment and it was repaired on site but as there is no mention of the damage on it's AM Form 78 I presume the damage was very minor. It received minor Cat.Ac/FB battle damage on 28th February 1943 on Ops to St.Nazaire which caused the crew to land at Harwell on their returned to England. It's AM78 states it was assessed as damaged by No.43 Group D.A. on 3rd March 1943 and was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 425 Squadron on 6th March 1943. On 14th May 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 27 O.T.U. at Lichfield. On 21st January 1944 it crashed into high ground north of Ashbourne, Derbyshire on a night exercise. Cat.E2/FA damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on 26th January 1944.