Wellington BK340 damaged by flak, landed at Dishforth airfield.
On the evening of 1st March 1943 the crew of this 425 Squadron aircraft had taken off from Dishforth at 18.18hrs to undertake a mine laying operational flight. 425 Squadron supplied seven Wellingtons for this mine laying flight. While in the dropping area the aircraft was fired upon by a flak ship and the aircraft received damage to a wing and the fuselage fabric. The crew were able to make a safe landing back at base at 23.57hrs. The incident is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78 which would suggest the damage was only very minor.
Pilot - P/O Ralph Adrian Stutt RCAF (J/16178), of Outremont, Quebec, Canada.
Navigator - Sgt Joseph Roland Gerard Dube RCAF, of Grand'Mere, Quebec, Canada.
Wireless Operator - Sgt H R Manning.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt E C Hodgson.
Air Gunner - Sgt W D Pettit.
Second Pilot - Sgt H A Jackson.
Ralph Stutt was later awarded the DFC for service with 425 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st October 1943.
Joseph Dube complete his Tour with 425 Squadron and was Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944. He was repatriated later in 1944.
Post-War he remained in the RCAF but was killed in a flying accident in July 1950.
Wellington BK340 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. It was received by 48 M.U. at Hawarden on 1st October 1942 and was taken on charge by 425 Squadron at Dishforth on 31st December 1942. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 1st March 1943 repairable Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site within days. On 13th March 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Essen and Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. It's then crew survived a crash landing in Holland although they became PoWs.