Wellington BK440 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 24th / 25th February 1943 the crew of this 426 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Wilhelmshaven. This aircraft was hit by flak and then attacked by a Junkers Ju88 a number of times. The pilot was able to bring the aircraft back to the UK and landed at base of Dishforth with a large hole in the fuselage at 00.29hrs. The damage does not appear listed on the aircraft's AM Form 78 so cannot have been too serious. It was repaired and used on Ops just days later on 27th February 1943.
S/Ldr Parker's Wellington HZ261 may also have been damaged by flak on this night with the crew effecting a return to Dishforth. I have yet to locate any source information to confirm this incident as the 426 Squadron ORB does list any damage to his aircraft.
Pilot - Sgt Leslie Thompson RAFVR (1004634), of Sheffield, Yorkshire.
Navigator - Sgt John Clayton Kennedy RCAF (R/109126), of Robson, British Columbia, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Raymond George Wood RAFVR (130506), of Derby.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Parkinson RAFVR (1078306).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Edward Ambrose Whalen RCAF (R/53979), of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt P Forrester.
Raymond Wood received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 9th October 1942 and was promoted to F/O just a week before his death on 9th April 1943.
John Kennedy was born on 31st May 1920 and was the son of Walter Gibson and Irene Sarah Kennedy, of Robson, British Columbia.
Edward Whalen was born on 30th January 1914 to Mr and Mrs James Edward Whalen of Kars, Ontario. He was working in Ottawa when he enlisted into the RCAF in June 1940 and had married Olga (nee Dey) of Montreal. He had two brothers in the RCAF; Wilfred Whalen was a wireless operator/air gunner and Desmond was serving in Canada at the time of his death in April 1943.
Wellington BK440 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. It was received by 38 MU on 22nd October 1942 and was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 23rd January 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 25th February 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 16th April 1943 it was transferred to 26 O.T.U. at Wing. On 11th December 1943 it exploded in midair over Norfolk while on a training flight and crashed near Foulsham. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was written off. It was only struck off charge on 12th February 1944, presumably a delay in submitting the paperwork happened.
On the night of 16th / 17th April 1943 the first five named airmen listed above were flying Ops to Mannheim in Wellington HE591 when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighters. All were killed and are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.