Wellington DF618 damaged by flak, returned to Topcliffe airfield.
On the evening of the 26th February 1943 the crew of this 424 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Cologne. They took off at 18.52hrs and released their bomb load from 14,000 feet at 21.09hrs. The aircraft was hit by flak in the fuselage and tailplane but despite the damage landed safely at base at 00.53hrs.
It's worthy of note to anyone interested in 424 Squadron around this date, the UK National Archives version of their orb is so poor it cannot be read so don't waste any money downloading it. The Canadian version on heritage.canadiana.ca (file 12296 and 12297) are perfect to read despite having no index or easy way of finding the pages.
Pilot - Sgt Philip Gustave Heden RCAF (R/102500).
Navigator - P/O Finlay Russell Taylor RCAF (J/10890).
Bomb Aimer - P/O George Allan Souch RCAF (J/16825).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Colin Muir Binnie RCAF (R/107361).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Lloyd Bjarnason RCAF (R/100110).
Second Pilot - Sgt R C White RCAF (R/128793).
Philip Heden was the son of Philip and Dora Heden, he was born in Noonan, Divide County, North Dakota, USA on 28th February 1923
but his parents had both died when he was young so he was living with his grandmother in Halbrite, Saskatchewan and was a student when he enlisted
into the Canadian Army in 1940 in Aneroid, he later transferred to the RCAF on 12th August 1940. He married Thelma Lucille Tullis in
Regina in 1942 and was the father of a baby girl when he died. The Heden Lake in Saskatchewan is named in his honour.
George Souch was the son of Clarence Norman and Elizabeth May Souch, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was born on 13th August 1916. He was living in Toronto when he enlisted on 7th March 1941 and received his commissioned in 1942. For service with 424 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted after his death on 1st October 1943. He was twenty six years old. His DFC was presented to his family in December 1948, the citation reads.."As bomb aimer this officer has completed many operational sorties, some of them over major German targets. He has consistently applied himself to improving his efficiency and has obtained some excellent photographs of the target areas. His skill and courage have been in a large measure responsible for the successes attained by his crew."
Finlay Taylor was born on 20th May 1920 and was the son of William Russell and Sybil Taylor of either Parksville or Errington, British Columbia, Canada. Little else is known about him, he was twenty three years old.
Albert Bjarnason was born at Froude, Saskatchewan on 12th November 1920 to Eyolfur and Margaret Bjarnason, but was raised on a farm near Griffin where he attended St.Elmo school. The family moved to Portage la Prairie in 1937 and Albert was farming when he enlisted into the RCAF in Winnipeg on 20th March 1941. A newspaper report on his death gives his parents as living in Langruth, both are buried in Portage la Prairie so presumably returned their later.
Colin Binnie born on 28th July 1922 and was the son of George and Catherine Binnie, of Tullis, Saskatchewan, Canada. Both his parents were born in Scotland but had emigrated. He enlisted into the RCAF on 17th June 1941 in Saskatoon and was unemployed at the time. After basic training he arrived in the UK to continue his training at 9(O)AFU and later 22 OTU before posting to 424 Squadron in November 1942. He received a commission on 30th May 1943.
The first five named above were killed on 29th July 1943 and are buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia while serving with 424 Squadron. The unit had just been posted to the North African theatre of war. Their Wellington crashed near their base of Kairouan.
Wellington DF618 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong’s Ltd. at Squires Gate and was awaiting collection in July 1942. The aircraft was received by 44 MU on 12th July 1942 and was issed to 22 O.T.U. at Wellesbourne Mountford possibly on 13th September 1942 but the date is not clear on it's AM Form 78. On 15th October 1942 424 Squadron RCAF formed at Topcliffe and DF618 was allocated to them but was taken on charge by on 23rd October 1942. As a result of the damage on 27th February 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment. It would have been repaired on site at Topcliffe and returned to 424 Squadron on 10th April 1943. In April 1943 424 Squadron ceased operating Wellington MkIII’s so the aircraft was transferred to 30 O.T.U. at Hixon on 20th April 1943. It sustained Cat.B damage on or just before 30th April 1943 which saw it taken to Sywell for repair in works. The aircraft next appears being taken on charge by 311 F.T.U. at Moreton-In-Marsh on 12th December 1943 from where it appears to have been ferried to the Middle East with 3 OADU days later. It is listed as being on charge with M.A.C. there until being struck off charge on 29th March 1945.