Halifax DT582 at Snaith airfield.
On the night of 7th / 8th February 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were tasked with carrying out an operational flight to bomb Lorient and left Snaith airfield at 19.13hrs, they bombed the target area from 12,000 feet. The crew returned to Snaith airfield at landed at 00.23hrs on a rough runway. One of the aircraft's tyres burst on landing and the aircraft was slightly damaged when the undercarriage leg then collapsed.
Pilot - WO Elihu Paul Acree RCAF (R/71437).
Navigator - P/O John Bernard Rees Battle RAFVR (136338).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Jack Eric Ulrich RAFVR (131775).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Dennis William Helps RAFVR (978009).
Flight Engineer - Sgt George Steer RAFVR (922222).
Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Elwell RAFVR (1070951).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Malcolm Thompson RAFVR (1289681).
Technically he had actually already received a commission on 14th December 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(143110) but the London Gazette only printed notification of this in May 1943. He was promoted to F/O on 14th June 1943 and to F/Lt on 14th December 1944. Post-war he remained in the RAF until retiring on 30th June 1973 as F/Lt.
Halifax DT582 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was initially taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 8th November 1942 but all their MkII Halifaxes were immediately recalled. Halifax DT582 was immediately tranferred to 51 Squadron at Snaith on 8th November 1942. It was first used by 51 Squadron operationally on 9th January 1943. As a result of the damage sustained at Snaith on 8th February 1943 Cat.B/FB damage was the damage assessment which would suggest the damage was more than just a burst tyre, Cat.B was more serious that minor Cat.A or Cat.Ac. After a repair by Handley Page in their works factory (probably York) the aircraft was flown to 48 MU on 15th May 1943 and was then taken on charge by 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Dalton on 9th August 1943 before they moved to Wombleton on 21st October 1943. It remained with the 1666 H.C.U. until 5th January 1945 when it was flown to 48 MU at Hooton Park for storage. Here it would await disposal before being struck off charge on 1st November 1945.
Elihu Acree was born on 12th April 1913 in Baudette, Minnesota, USA. After service with 51 Squadron he was posted away on 28th March 1943 to 24 OTU and later served with 428 Squadron. He was the pilot of Lancaster KB764 that was ditched in the Atlantic on 4th June 1945 off the Azores while on the flight back home to Canada having left Middleton St.George earlier in the week, all were picked up, survived and continued their journey on different aircraft. He died in July 1991 in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada.
John Battle received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th November 1942. He was made a PoW on a currently unfound date and while a PoW he continued to rise in rank, being promoted to F/O on 14th May 1943 and F/Lt on 14th November 1944. Post war he remained in the RAF and was granted a permanent commission on 15th July 1948, he transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch on 5th April 1949 but back to the General Duties Branch in May 1950. He retired on 24th October 1964 while in the rank of S/Ldr.
Sgt Elwell was posted from 51 Squadron to 1663 HCU in April 1943, he was later made a PoW while serving with 35 Squadron PFF on 24th August 1943 when Halifax HR846 was shot down by a night fighter on Ops to Berlin. The book "Regret to Inform You" by Gordon Hurley details this incident and the crew's subsequent capture.
Dennis Helps was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th May 1943. The citation for his DFM reads.. "F/Sgt Helps has taken part in a large number of operational sorties and antisubmarine patrols. He has attacked some of the enemy's most heavily defended targets, including Berlin and Cologne. On one occasion the aircraft in which he was flying suffered severe damage from anti aircraft fire, and another time his aircraft was forced down on to the sea some distance from the shore in adverse weather. It was largely owing to the calmness and accuracy with which F/Sgt Helps sent out his distress signals that an early rescue was effected. Later, in July 1942, his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters in day-light. In the ensuing engagement, in which the attacker was probably destroyed and his own aircraft received damage, this airman again exhibited exceptional coolness and courage."
Sgt George Steer was killed on 14th May 1943 while flying in Halifax HR790 which was shot down by a night fighter over Holland and crashed near the village of Rectum. He is buried in Wierden General Cemetery, Holland and was twenty two years old.
Jack Ulrich received a commission on 3rd November 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He was killed on 7th March 1943 flying a minelaying flight in Halifax DT567, the aircraft failed to return and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. CWGC lists no personal information for him.
Frank Thompson received a commission on 1st April 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(144266). He was killed on 17th April 1943 while flying in Halifax HR784 on Ops to Plzen when the aircraft crashed in the Somme area of France, he is buried in Maucourt French National Cemetery. He was thirty four years old.