Halifax DT772 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 23th / 24th May 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft was undertaking an operational flight to bomb Dortmund and took off from Leeming at 22.13hrs. The aircraft received minor flak damage to the rear turret during the flight, no injuries appear to have been sustained and the crew landed safely at Leeming at 03.54hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Frank Thould RCAF (R/116497).
Navigator - P/O J Macready RCAF (J/14179).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Kenneth Newton Reid RCAF (R/124013).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt B Gray RAFVR (1366745).
Air Gunner - Sgt William Mark Vanzant RCAF (R/119105).
Air Gunner - Sgt Milton Ray Ledgett RCAF (R/105328).
Flight Engineer - Sgt A M Lloyd RAFVR (973490).
This crew were later posted to 434 Squadron when it formed and on 28th August 1943 when Halifax DK258 failed to return from Ops to Nurnburg. WO1 Thould and F/Sgt Ledgett were killed and are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. The others became PoWs.
Halifax DT772 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Beaulieu on 5th February 1943. Seven days later the aircraft was transferred to 408 Squadron at Leeming. On 10th March 1943 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage at Boscombe Down when it collided with Boston BZ201. The damage was soon repaired on site and it was returned to 408 Squadron charge on 14th April 1943. As a result of sustaining flak damage on 24th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Leeming. On 22nd June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Krefeld, Cat.E(m) damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 28th June 1943 having clocked up 134.35 hours total flying time.