Halifax DK148 at Holme on Spalding Moor.
This aircraft took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 22.16hrs on 25th July 1943 to undertake an operational flight to bomb Essen. While over the target one of the engines suffered problems which resulted in the propeller becoming detached and as it broke free it struck the fuselage. The pilot lost control of the aircraft and instructed the crew to bale out, the mid upper gunner left the aircraft and eventually became a PoW but the pilot then re-gained control before anyone else left. The pilot then withdrew the order to bale out and continued to make the return trip to England. A crash landing was made back at Holme on Spalding Moor at 04.26hrs with the undercarriage up. The photograph above shows the aircraft on its belly after the landing at Holme on Spalding Moor. The pilot and wireless operator were later awarded DFC's for their actions on this night and the joint citation adds more detail, it reads.. "One night in July 1943, these officers were pilot and wireless operator/air gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Essen. When nearing the target, one of the port propellers was shattered and the engine caught fire. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Shannon went on to make a successful bombing run. The wireless apparatus was unserviceable as the aerials had been destroyed but Pilot Officer Ellis resourcefully erected an emergency aerial and thus was enabled to re-establish contact with base and obtain bearings which proved of material assistance to his pilot on the return flight. Both these officers displayed great skill and tenacity, setting an excellent example.
Pilot - F/Lt Colin McTaggart Shannon RAAF (415055), of Narrogin East, Western Australia.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Frederick Walton RAFVR (1436208), of Hampsthwaite, Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Navigator - Sgt V S Shaw (Possibly Sgt Victor Stanley Shaw RAFVR (1389260)).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Torrance Buchan RAF (655439).
Wireless Operator - F/O William Claude Ellis RAFVR (132386)
Air Gunner - Sgt E W Waterman RAFVR (1337898). Made a PoW.
Air Gunner - Sgt John Dodson RAFVR (1129601), of Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
The night previously they had crash landed Halifax DK205 at Holme on Spalding Moor on return from Ops to Hamburg.
The website "www.hampsthwaite.org.uk/villagehistory/489" details this loss and shows photographs of many of the crew.
William Ellis received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 31st October 1942 and rose to F/O (war subs) on 30th April 1943. As stated above for service with 76 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 17th August 1943.
Colin Shannon was the son of Pultney and Eva Shannon, of Noman's Lake, Narrogin East and was born on 13th April 1918 and was working as a farmer when he enlisted into the RAAF on 23rd June 1941 in Perth. He was granted a commission in the RAAF on 30th April 1942 to the rank of P/O and rose to F/O on 30th October 1942. After basic training he arrived in the UK in September 1942 and trained at 15 (P)AFU, 24 OTU and 1663 HCU before posting to 76 Squadron on 4th June 1943. He first flew operationally with 76 Squadron on 11th June 1943. He too was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th August 1943.
On the night of 9th / 10th August 1943 Shannon, Buchan, Walton and Dodson were flying in Halifax LK892 on Ops to Mannheim when the aircraft was shot down by flak and crashed near Boulogne with the loss of all the crew. They are buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. Shannon was 25, Buchan was 28, Walton was 19 and Dodson was 21 years old.