Halifax DT749 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
Just after midnight on the 14th July 1943 this 408 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield to undertake an operational flight to bomb Aachen. The crew bombed the target area but the aircraft received minor damage to the nose of the aircraft by a flak burst but they returned to Leeming airfield and landed safely at 06.14hrs.
Pilot - P/O Sven Roy Walfrid Laine RCAF (J/18786).
Navigator - Sgt James Graham Broadfoot RCAF (R/133755).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Robert Joseph Bradley RCAF (R/156756).
Wireless Operator - Sgt David Leonard Wright RAFVR (1453419).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Reginald Ragnor Armstrong RAF (611857).
Air Gunner - Sgt Roy Alderson MacKay RCAF (R/179428).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alfred Ernest Jones RAF (623452).
Sven Laine was born in Fort William, Ontario, Canada in 1921 and enlisted for RCAF service on 12th July 1941. Having received a commission he was awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd February 1944.
All of the above apart from F/Sgt Armstrong converted to fly the Lancaster and were still flying together with 408 Squadron on the night of 27th / 28th January 1944 when Lancaster DS849 failed to return from Ops to Berlin. All were killed and are now buried in Hanover War Cemetery. All had received commissions.
Reginald Armstrong was awarded the DFM for service with 408 Squadron and would receive a commission. He survived the War.