Wellington HE150 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Leconfield airfield.
On the evening of 17th February 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying a daylight operational flight to bomb Emden and took off from Leconfield at around 17.00hrs. This crew bombed the target area at 18.27hrs from 8,000 feet and the bombs were seen to land in an area to the northern part of Emden. I quote from a report on their commendable flying effort report filed following this flight, it states...
"..at about 18.45hrs and when crossing the enemy coast at about 9000 feet and flying just above a cloud layer, was attached by a Me110 which emerged from cloud on the starboard quarter. The first attach put out of action the inter-communication set, the turret and aircraft hydraulics, punctured the auxilliary oil tank, shot away the astro done and pitot head, cut the trimming wire and set fire to the starboard wing petrol tanks. A large portion of the perspex on the rear turret was also shot away. F/O Smith dived into the cloud but within two minutes ran out of cloud and was immediately attacked again from the port quarter. The rear gunner opened fire by manually operating his guns and the captain took evasive action and dived for better cloud cover about 3000 feet below, being attacked once more on the way down by on neither occasion were hits scored by the enemy aircraft. Flying with difficulty and having sent out an S.O.S., P/O Smith brought the aircraft back to base where he made a difficult night landing without flaps or airspeed indicator and with the bombs doors open. The starboard tyre had been punctured by a bullet but the landing was well executed and no further damage was done to the aircraft." This crew were later commended for their actions on this day.
Pilot - F/O John Baird Smith RNZAF (414891).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Geoffrey Thomas Lax RAFVR (116201).
Navigator - F/O John Donald Vaizey RAFVR (118824).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Percy Ernest Pilborough RAFVR (1291506).
Air Gunner - Sgt Stanley Robbins RAFVR (1116539).
John Smith was also awarded the DFC for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th August 1943. The citation for his DFC mentioned the events of 17th February 1943. He was killed flying with 467 Squadron on 10th May 1944. He is buried in Lesquin Communal Cemetery, France.
John Vaizey was awarded the DFC and Stanley Robbins was awarded the DFM for service with 466 Squadron, both Gazetted on 15th October 1943.
Wellington HE150 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in November 1942. It was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Driffield on 28th November 1942. They moved to Leconfield on 27th December 1942. As a result of battle damage sustained on 17th February 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. Once repaired it was returned to 466 Squadron on 8th May 1943. On 26th May 1943 minor Cat.A(c)/FB flak damage resulted and a repair on site was made locally. The aircraft was lost on 12th June 1943 on Ops to Dusseldorf, Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. It's then crew were all killed. The aircraft was struck off charge on 1st July 1943.