Halifax DT580 damaged by flak, returned to Burn airfield.
At 18.28hrs on 3rd March 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield to carry out an opertional flight to bomb Hamburg, the aircraft sustained flak damage over the target which damaged the port outer engine. Despite the damage the crew were able to make a safe landing at Burn airfield at 00.13hrs. The squadron ORB also states that the aircraft had also had been suffering from a problem with the glycol system.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Dennis Henry Allan Moore DFM RAF (46081).
Navigator - F/O Wingrave (probably F/O Arthur George Wingrave RAFVR (120628)).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Horace Alfred Briggs RAFVR (1577617).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Dennis Axtell RAF (626794).
Flight Engineer - Sgt William Robert McBriar RAF (540742).
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald Harold Reid RAFVR (1316069).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Malcolm Thompson RAFVR (1289681).
Dennis Axtell was born in Epsom, Surrey in June 1920 and had lived on the Isle of Wight prior to enlisting into the RAF. His wife was originally from Belfast. He was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943, the citation for which reads.."Sgt Axtell has taken part in a large number of operational sorties and four escort patrols. He has always shown consistent keenness, and his fins technical knowledge, exceptional initiative, resourcefulness and skill have proved a big asset to the completion of many, successful sorties." He is also commemorated on a the St.Helens Church Memorial, Isle of Wight.
Frank Thompson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 1st April 1943 (144266).
William McBriar received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 5th April 1943 (51909).
F/O Wingrave was probably Arthur Wingrave who received a commission to P/O on probation on 19th January 1942 rising to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt on 19th January 1944.
Dennis Moore joined the RAF at the very bottom way back in 1928 and trained at Halton. He was awarded the DFM for service with 58 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd November 1940 and appeared in a famous RAF poster of the day entitled "The Few". He received his commission on 3rd July 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation and was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st April 1942 and was Mentioned in Despatches on 11th June 1942, he was later promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 1st February 1943. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 2nd June 1943 and was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943. Postwar he remained in the RAF at least until 1957.
Sgt Thompson (34), Sgt McBriar (23), Sgt Reid and F/Sgt Axtell (22) were killed on 17th April 1943 when Halifax HR784 on ops to Plzen when the aircraft crashed in the Somme area of France. They are buried in Maucourt French National Cemetery, France.
Sgt Horace Briggs was killed on 1st May 1943 when Halifax HR733 failed to return from Ops to Essen. CWGC list no personal information for him. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Halifax DT580 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge as new by 51 Squadron at Snaith on 30th October 1942. It was first used operationally by 51 Squadron on 15th January 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 4th March 1943 and then 28th March 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage resulted each time with repairs on site carried out. It was next used by 51 Squadron on 16th April 1943. The aircraft was later transferred to 78 Squadron at Breighton on 11th July 1943 and finally to 1658 Heavy Conevrsion Unit at Riccall on 22nd August 1943. On 24th June 1944 it was considered beyond economical repair during a major inspection and was struck off charge on 27th June 1944.