Halifax DG230 damaged by night fighter, landed at Pocklington airfield.
During the evening of 9th January 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft was being flown on a mine laying operational flight to lay mines around the Frisian Islands. It was attacked and damaged by a Junkers Ju88 night fighter, a hole was made in the starboard elevator and the trailing aerial was shot away. The crew managed to make a safe return and land at Pocklington airfield at 20.55hrs.
Pilot - Sgt John Deryk Illingworth RAFVR (1144450).
Navigator - Sgt Ronald Williamson RAFVR (1425144).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Lawrence Till Holdom RAFVR (1293320).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Kay RAF (623848).
Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Sankey RAFVR (1119320).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J S King RAFVR (1368601). Part of the J.King AIR78 file is missing from the National Archives files.
Air Gunner - Sgt Harold Pasquill RAFVR (1077989).
Harold Pasquill was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron in Summer 1943.
On 14th February 1943 many of those listed above were flying in Halifax DT788 which was damaged on Ops to Cologne. Sgt Kay was killed and is buried in Jonkerbos Cemetery. Sgt Sankey managed to evade capture and return to the UK. Illingworth, Williamson, King and Holdom became PoWs.
Halifax DG230 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd. at Speke and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 26th July 1942. The squadron moved to Melbourne on 19th August 1942. As a result of operational battle damage on 27th September 1942 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site with the repair complete by 31st October 1942. It was again slightly damaged by enemy action on the night of 9th / 10th January 1943 with Cat.B/FB damage being in the initial damage assessment that was swiftly downgraded to Re-Cat.A/FB the following day. The repairs after this incident were completed by 26th February 1943. The aircraft was then transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 21st April 1943. On 14th November 1943 it crashed at Kirk Hammerton and was destroyed after which Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 27th November 1943.