In the early hours of 27th April 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 00.49hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. They bombed the target area from 18,000 feet at 02.44hrs. Heavy flak was reported over the target but the aircraft escaped damage there only to be then struck by a flak burst over the Danish coast on the return leg of the flight, with minor fuselage damage the crew made a safe landing back at Melbourne at 05.36hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Ronald Charles Williams RAFVR (1377791).
Flight Engineer - Sgt William Laverick RAF (545207).
Navigator - Sgt Joseph Hooson RAFVR (1206791).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Eric John Stone RAFVR (1332888).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt R H G Wray RAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt H/F C Redman RAFVR (914991).
Air Gunner - Sgt J Smith RAF.
All of the above survived the crash landing of 10 Squadron Halifax DT785 near Thornaby on 4th April 1943 which saw the aircraft written following the landing and also battle damage. They were later posted to 35 Squadron. On 29th December 1943 F/O Williams DFC (146333), Sgt Laverick DFM, P/O Hooson DFM (158427) and F/O Stone DFC were killed when their 35 Squadron Halifax HR986 crashed near Doberitz, they were initially buried locally but now lay in Berlin War Cemetery. I thank Mr Graham Sharpe for the photographs of their gravestones. Sgt Redman survived and became a PoW.
Ronald Williams had trained at 20 EFTS at Yeadon and while there he was the pilot of Tiger Moth T7051 that force landed near Harrogate on 28th August 1941. He later received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 10th May 1943 and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 10th November 1943. His DFC was Gazetted after his death on 18th January 1944 and for service with 35 Squadron.
Joseph Hooson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th August 1943.
William Laverick was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th November 1943.
Eric Stone received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 10th May 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron Gazetted on 16th November 1943.
Halifax DT784 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 3rd February 1943. As a result of flak damage sustained on 27th April 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. The aircraft was further damaged by flak on the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 that saw Cat.A/FB damage be the damage assessment. It was again repaired on site. On the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 it was again slightly damaged by flak and Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment. Again it was repaired on site. On 4th July 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Cologne that saw two of the crew killed while five became PoWs. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 31st August 1943 having clocked up a total of 229 flying hours.