Halifax DT567 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
At 19.06hrs on 5th March 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield to carry out an opertional flight to bomb Essen. While over the target area the aircraft was hit by flak and received damage to the bomb aimer's perspex. The crew were able to return to Snaith airfield in a drafty aircraft and land safely at 00.21hrs on 6th March 1943. The aircraft was soon repaired.
Pilot - Sgt John Rawcliffe RAFVR (1238965).
Navigator - Sgt Ronald Felix Lyster RAFVR (1090703).
Observer (Bomb Aimer?) - F/Sgt John Richards RAFVR (996588).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William George Richardson RAFVR (1188860).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Viner Branscombe RAF (574488).
Air Gunner - Sgt David Ballantyne Ralston RAFVR (1346417).
Air Gunner - Sgt Arnold Howarth RAF (652711).
Halifax DT567 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection on 22nd October 1942. The aircraft underwent a number of transfers early in it's life with No.4 Group. It was initially taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 7th November 1942 but, as a Mk.II, it was one that was recalled and replaced by a Mk.V. It was then transferred to 158 Squadron at Rufforth also on 7th November 1942, then to 78 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 11th November 1942 and was used operationally by them between 23rd November 1942 and 23rd January 1943. It then appears to have briefly passed to 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 30th January 1943 before finally moving to 51 Squadron at Snaith on 3rd February 1943. They first used it operationally on 28th February 1943. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 6th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site very quickly. On 8th March 1943 it was lost on a mine laying operational flight with the loss of the then crew of seven. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was written off.
Sgt Lyster was flying in Halifax DT628 on 20th April 1943 when the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Stettin. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, he was twenty years old.
Sgt Rawcliffe (29), Sgt Howarth (22), Sgt Ralston (22), Sgt Branscombe (19), Sgt Richards (23) and Sgt Richardson (29) were flying in Halifax DT738 on 3rd April 1943 when the aircraft crashed in Germany, they are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.