Halifax DT667 at Pocklington airfield.
During the evening of 21st January 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft was being flown on a mine laying operational flight to lay mines around
the Frisian Islands. The crew left Melbourne at around 17.20hrs but it was attacked, but not damaged, a night fighter during the flight. The crew made a
landing at Pocklington airfield at 22.09hrs but not in line with the runway. The tail wheel broke off when the aircraft swung off the runway and onto rough ground.
Pilot - F/O Kenneth Munro DFC RAAF (408168).
Navigator - Sgt Cecil Meigel Arrieta RAFVR (657698).
Bomb Aimer - F/Lt Cyril George Minchinton RAFVR (84895).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Stuart Devereux RAFVR (927866).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alfred Leslie Langworthy RAF (569484).
Air Gunner - Sgt Dennis Frederick Charles Tester RAFVR (1393967).
Air Gunner - Sgt William LeRoy Hubert Hill RCAF (R/123276).
Halifax DT667 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was received by 8 MU on 29th November 1942. It was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 24th December 1942 and as a result of the damage on 21st January 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage resulted. It was repaired on site and was returned to 10 Squadron charge on 15th February 1943. The aircraft was transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 29th March 1943. The aircraft was later transferred to 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton on 12th April 1944. On 5th January 1945 it was flown into store with 48 MU at Hooton Park. It was struck off charge on 1st November 1945 and scrapped.
Kenneth Munro was born in New Zealand in June 1915 but enlisted for RAAF service in Hobart. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th
December 1942. He was awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 11th June 1943 for further service with 10 Squadron. He was killed in a flying accident to Oxford X6858
on 1st July 1943 in Gloucestershire and is buried in Bath Cemetery. He was twenty eight years old.
Cecil Arrieta was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation also
on 11th June 1943 and rose to F/O on 11th December 1943 and F/Lt on 11th June 1945. While serving with 128 Squadron and flying in Mosquito KB199 on 30th October
1944 on Ops to Berlin, the aircraft was shot down over Germany and while he baled out his pilot was killed. He was made a PoW. Post-war he remained in the RAF
until relinquishing his commission of F/Lt on 11th August 1955. He later emmigrated to Canada and died in Comox, British Columbia in 1981.
Cyril Minchinton received a commission to the rank of Acting P/O on probation on 23rd August 1940 and was later graded as P/O on probation on 23rd September
1940 and confirmed as P/O on 23rd August 1941. He was promoted to F/O on 23rd September 1941 and F/Lt on 23rd September 1942. For service with 10 Squadron he was
awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 9th July 1943. Post-war he remained in the RAF and was awarded the MBE, Gazetted on 2nd January 1950. He retired from RAF service on 23rd August 1962.
Frank Devereux was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 6th March 1943 (144262) and was promoted to F/O on 6th September 1943 and F/Lt on 6th March 1945.
Alfred Langworthy had previously trained at Halton. He was also awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th June 1943, and received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 23rd September 1943 (53279). He was killed on 10th January 1944 while serving with 1652 HCU when Halifax HR664 crashed into the River Ouse just north of York with the loss of all seven of the crew. He was twenty four years old and is buried in Cheriton Churchyard, Kent.
William Hill was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943. Following time instructing he was posted to 35 Squadron.