Halifax DK179 near Goole.

On the night of 15th / 16th July 1943 the crew of this 76 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb a tank factory at Mount Beliard and took off from their base at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 21.40hrs. This aircraft made a low level attack on the factory. On their return the aircraft ran so low on fuel that the pilot instructed a number of the crew to bale out and four were able to do so at a safe height and he then force landed the Halifax with the wheels up near Goole. Many of those listed below had survived the 76 Squadron crash of Halifax DT782 at Linton on Ouse in March 1943.

Pilot - W/Co Donald Clarence Smith RAFO (34251).

? - Sgt Williams.

? - P/O Peter Medley John Harris RAFVR (144318).

? - "Sgt" P/O Stephen Wilmot Palmer RAFVR (1191179 / 148779).

? - F/Lt Harold Muir Ashton RAFVR (75998).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Harold Bruce Thompson RCAF (R/70208).

? - Sgt Geoffrey Hope Cranswick RAFVR (778852).

Donald Smith's commission date is not yet known but must have been in the early 1930s. He was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th August 1943 and while he was commanding officer. He was also awarded the DSO for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 28th December 1943, the citation reads.. "In operations in the Middle East, Wing Commander Smith completed a very large number of sorties. More recently he has participated in numerous attacks on targets in Germany, including such centres as Berlin, Stuttgart, Kassel and many others equally important. He has at all times displayed exceptional skill, great courage and resolution and his achievements have been worthy of high praise."

Stephen Palmer received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 30th May 1943 but was still listed in the rank of Sgt in the squadron records in July 1943. For service with 76 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944.

Peter Harris received a commission on 20th January 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) but notification of this was only printed some time later on 4th June 1943 in the London Gazette. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 20th July 1943. For service with 76 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 2nd June 1944. He was promted to F/Lt (war subs) on 20th January 1945. His name appears in a Service Voters List for 1945 found on the internet and normally a resident at Howletts, Willows Green, Essex.

Harold Ashton was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th August 1943.

Geoffrey Cranswick was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 2nd June 1944. He received a commission on 27th May 1943 but the 76 Squadron record book was also listing him in his non-commissioned rank in July 1943.

Harold Thompson had earlier served with 415 Squadron and after 76 Squadron he was posted to 51 Squadron. As Warrant Officer Class II he was killed on 15th March 1944 flying in Halifax LW497 which was hit by flak and crashed in Germany, he is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.

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