Halifax DT793 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 25th / 26th May 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf and took off from Elvington airfield at 23.17hrs, they bombed PFF markers from 15,500 feet but received slight flak damage while over the target area. The crew were able to make a safe return to Elvington and land there at 05.11hrs.
Pilot - Sgt James Ian Francis Byrne RAFVR (1527198).
Flight Engineer - Sgt G Graham RAFVR (1108498).
Navigator - Sgt Roy Eric Olive RAFVR (1323092).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt V H Bradley RAF (658342).
Wireless Operator - Sgt A G Willis RAFVR (1314761).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Kenneth Sears RAFVR (1201914).
Air Gunner - Sgt Samuel James Wilson RAFVR (1521081).
James Byrne received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 18th August 1943.
Roy Olive received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 22nd August 1943.
Halifax DT793 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 21st February 1943. As a result of flak damage on 30th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment that was repaired on site. No mention of the incident is given on it's AM Form 78. As a result of flak damage on 21st April 1943 Cat.Ac/FB battle damage occurred on Ops to Stettin. This incident is on the AM Form 78 and the damage was repaired on site with it being returned to 77 Squadron on 16th May 1943. On 26th May 1943 and then on 4th July 1943 minor Cat.A/FB battle damage was sustained on Ops. The aircraft was repaired on site each time and it was returned to 77 Squadron use, though neither is on the AM Form 78. On 7th September 1943 it failed to return from an operational flight to Munich and was lost without trace. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. The aircraft was struck off charge on 10th September 1943 having clocked up a total of 269 flying hours.
All of the above were flying in Halifax JD383 on 27th/28th August 1943 on Ops to Nuremburg when the aircraft was shot down by flak, Graham, Bradley and Willis survived and became PoWs but Byrne, Olive, Sears and Wilson died and are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.