Wellington DF671 damaged by flak, returned to Topcliffe airfield.
This 424 Squadron aircraft took off from Topcliffe airfield at 18.05hrs on the evening of 1st March 1943 so the crew could undertake a mine laying operational flight over waters in the Nectarine region around the Frisian Islands. Just before releasing the mines the aircraft was hit by flak at 20.07hrs and the fuselage just in front of the forward escape hatch was holed. The crew made a safe return to Topcliffe and landed at 23.10hrs.
Pilot - Sgt William Hamilton Grigg RCAF (R/126558), of Mt.Bridges, Ontario, Canada.
Navigator - Sgt K M Jordan RAFVR (1383878).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J J H Barter RAFVR (911468).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Leslie George Hardy RAFVR (1272168), of Harringay, Middlesex.
Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon William Thompson RCAF (R/115765), of Zealandia, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Wireless Operator - Sgt F Bowker.
Sgt Barter was probably one Joseph Barter, born in London in 1920 and married in the Knaresborough area in 1943 but then divorced in the same area in 1948.
William Grigg was born in 1919, he returned home to Canada after war and died in 1988.
424 Squadron left for the Middle East a couple of months after this incident but left this crew behind. They were all posted to 432 Squadron and all were flying in Wellington LN435 Squadron undertaking an operational flight to bomb Wuppertal when the aircraft crashed in Holland. Sgt's Hardy and Thompson were killed and Sgt's Grigg, Jordan and Barter became PoWs. Sgt Thompson is buried Crooswijk General Cemetery, he was twenty one years old. Sgt Hardy is buried in Numansdorp Protestant Cemetery, he was twenty three years old.
Wellington DF671 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate. It was received by 23 MU on 9th August 1942 and after a short period of storage it was taken on charge by 424 Squadron on 20th December 1942 two months after they formed. As a result of this minor battle damage sustained on 17th February 1943 and then on 1st March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment each time with a repair on site following. Only the 1st March 1943 incident is listed on it's AM Form 78. It was returned to 424 Squadron on 22nd April 1943. The aircraft was left behind in Yorkshire when 424 Squadron moved over seas in May 1943 and it next appears being taken on charge by 18 O.T.U. at Finningley on 5th June 1943. Unfortunately it crashed near Finningley on 28th June 1943. After this Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.