On the evening of 5th March 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to lay mines. The aircraft was fired upon by flak ships and sustained pretty serious damage to the hydraulics and the starboard wing. The damage to the hydraulics resulted in the bomb doors being jammed open and while the crew were able to release the mines they would not shut so they returned to base and landed safely at Elvington at 22.13hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Gordon Watson RAFVR (1383608).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ian Douglas Crawford RAF (634710).
Navigator - F/O Arthur Edward Parsons RCAF (J/11636).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Leon Hannam RAFVR (1381305).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas John Bramble RAFVR (1108086).
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Deuel Scarff RCAF (R/95040).
Air Gunner - Sgt George William Norman Potter RAFVR (996705).
On the night of 30th April / 1st May 1943 Watson, Crawford, Parsons, Hannam and Scarff were flying an operational flight with 77 Squadron in Halifax JB803 to Bomb Essen when the aircraft was shot down over Holland by a night-fighter. All were killed and are buried at Muiden General Cemetery.
Halifax DT632 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was received by 18 MU on 17th November 1942. It was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 8th December 1942. It was first used operationally by them on 4th February 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 5th March 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FB was the assessment and it was repaired on site . The aircraft was later returned to 77 Squadron on 27th March 1943 but was then lost on Ops to Duisburg on 13th May 1943. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. It was struck off charge on 16th May 1943.
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