On the night of 15th / 16th September 1943 the crew of this 427 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at 20.36hrs for an operational flight to bomb Montlucon, France to bomb the Dunlop rubber research laboratory that was being used in the German war effort. Outbound the starboard outer engine caught fire, the crew put the fire out but opted to return to base rather than continue on just three engines. They jettisoned the bomb load at 22.25hrs and managed to make a safe return to Leeming landing at 02.41hrs.
Pilot - Sgt John Douglas Mawson RCAF.
Navigator - P/O Frederick Earl Woodland RCAF (J/14173).
Bomb Aimer - P/O W Mason RCAF (J/22626).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Wightman RAFVR (995172).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leonard William Webb RCAF (R/172973).
Air Gunner - Sgt Foley RCAF (Can7879).
Flight Engineer - Sgt I? Merritt RCAF (R/89022).
John Mawson was born in January 1921 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He had initially enlisted for RCAF service in August 1939 for general service and later remustered as aircrew in 1942. Having undertaken initial pilot training in Canada he was posted to the UK in December 1942, having then passed through 15 (P)AFU, 22 OTU and 1659 HCU he was posted to 431 Squadron on 4th September 1943 but this posting was brief as he was posted to 427 Squadron five days later. He completed a tour with 427 Squadron in July 1944 and was posted to instruct at 1666 HCU. For service with 427 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. Post-ww2 he remained in the RCAF but was killed in a flying accident involving RCAF B.25 Mitchell 5215 on 1st March 1957 in Canada.
Frederick Woodland was also awarded the DFC for service with 427 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th October 1944.
Leonard Webb was also awarded the DFC for service with 427 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th November 1944.
Eric Wightman received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 20th March 1944 and rose to F/O six months later.
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