Halifax DK184 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 29th / 30th May 1943 427 Squadron undertook operational flights to bomb Wuppertal and this was the first operational flight that 427 Squadron flew after
converting to the Halifax. This crew took off from Leeming at 22.55hrs and released their bombs over target markers at 01.26hrs. During the course of the night their aircraft received minor flak damage but this did not prevent a safe landing at Leeming being made at 04.30hrs.
Pilot - P/O Gerald Alban Gagnon RCAF (J/17025).
Navigator - F/Sgt L W Rogers RCAF (R/74425).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Charles Richard Page RCAF (R/114415).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Richard Hooley RCAF (R/108426).
Air Gunner - Sgt Angus Anthony McKinnon RCAF (R/104179).
Air Gunner - Sgt Clarence Ray Munson RCAF (R/116469).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Kenneth Albert Shannon RAF (623715).
On 25th / 26th June 1943 Gagnon, Shannon, Page, Hooley, Munson and McKinnon were flying Halifax DK135 on Ops to Gelsenkirchen when the aircraft was badly damaged by a night-fighter over Holland. All baled out but sadly Gerald Gagnon drowned after landing in a canal. He is buried in Bergen General Cemetery. The others became PoWs.
Halifax DK184 was built to contract ACFT/891/C4 by Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd. at Stockport and was taken on charge as new by 427 Squadron at Leeming on 6th May 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on Ops on both 30th May 1943, 23rd June 1943 and 29th June 1943 the aircraft received a Cat.A/FB damage assessment each time and a repair on site was made each time. On 24th August 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Berlin, Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork which saw the aircraft struck off charge on 5th September 1943 having clocked up 158 hours total flying time from new.
Rogers had earlier served with 405 Squadron.