Halifax DT546 damaged by enemy action, landed at Pocklington airfield.
During the 6th February 1943 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft were to undertake an operational mine laying flight, they took off from Melbourne airfield at 17.30hrs and released their mines over the Baltrum area at 19.17hrs from 700 feet. Well into the return leg of the flight the aircraft was struck by a cannon shell at 20.20hrs, the shell exploded inside the fuselage and made an eight inch hole in the top of the fuselage. None of the crew were injured but a landing was made at Pocklington, not nearby base of Melbourne, at 21.45hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Paul Windermere Wilson Brunton RNZAF (NZ.413541).
Navigator - Sgt Alfred Charles Paulton RCAF (R/98024).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Ronald Cooper RAFVR (1079477).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Herbert Edwin Wright RAFVR (1378296).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert William Booth RAFVR (1424526).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J Miller.
Air Gunner - Sgt Alan Frank McCoy RCAF (R/123498).
Sgt Miller appears to have received the DFM in October 1943 but I have not been able to locate the entry in the London Gazette relating to this to fully identify him.
Halifax DT546 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd., at Samlesbury. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 5th October 1942. It sustained Cat.Ac/FB battle damage on 14th October 1942 that saw it repaired at Melbourne and returned to 10 Squadron on 17th November 1942. As a result of battle damage sustained on 6th February 1943 Cat.A/FB damage resulted. It was repaired on site at Pocklington and returned to 10 Squadron at Melbourne. On 23rd February 1943 it was transferred to 408 Squadron at Leeming and then to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe on 9th June 1943. As a result of a landing accident at Topcliffe on 29th August 1944 the damage was deemed to be Cat.E/FA that wrote off the aircraft. It was struck off charge on the same date.
Ronald Cooper was granted a commission in March 1943, he was posted to 82 OTU on 23rd June 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron which came through after he had left.