Halifax DT769 damaged by flak, returned at Leeming airfield.
On the evening of 16th / 17th April 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a long operational flight to bomb the Skoda works in Pilsen. A flak burst blew off the pilot's escape hatch over Saarbrucken and the aircraft was attacked by a Junkers Ju.88 but there was damage the aircraft after the pilot took evasive action. The Halifax was slightly damaged by flak which blew the astrodome off over the target. The crew were able to make a safe return to England and landed at base of Leeming at 07.00hrs after a drafty flight.
Pilot - P/O Alan Osborne Smuck RCAF (J/15677).
Navigator - P/O John James Kelly RAFVR (127961).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Frederic William Bilson RAFVR (126821).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Barneveld RAFVR (1332114).
Air Gunner - Sgt Douglas George McKay RCAF (R/124347).
Air Gunner - Sgt David Lloyd George Brown RCAF (R/109630).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Foggon RAF (577754).
Bilson was posted to 405 Squadron as a navigator. On 9th October 1943 F/O Bilson was flying in Lancaster JA980 when it failed to return from an operational flight to Hannover. He is buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
All of the above apart from P/O Bilson were flying Halifax DT769 on the night of 13th / 14th July 1943 on an operational flight to attack a target at Aachen when they were shot down by a night-fighter over Holland. P/O Kelly was one of two who survived to became a pow while the others listed above were all killed. They are buried in Tilburg General Cemetery.
Halifax DT769 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming on 26th January 1943. As a result of the minor damage sustained on 17th April 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment that saw it repaired on site. On 14th July 1943 it failed to return from an operational flight to Aachen that saw five of the seven crew killed while the other two became PoWs. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and it was struck off charge on 19th July 1943 having logged a total of 221 hours total flying time.