Wellington HE156 at Leconfield airfield.

On 6th February 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a daylight mine laying flight from the waters off Brest but were forced to return to base early as fabric began peeling from the port side of the aircraft just behind the pilot's position while they were over Oxford. The port engine had also developed an oil leak. Having taken off at 16.21hrs they landed without further damage at 18.58hrs. While not an "accident" the incident is included as a repair must have been needed. The aircraft had already been damaged in late 1942 but the aircraft survived the war. A week after this February 1943 incident the navigator and wireless operator survived a more serious accident when Wellington HE153 crashed in the grounds of Warter Priory near Pocklington.

Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Charles Warren MiD RAF (33482).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt John Geoffrey Chalmers RAFVR (1321621).

Navigator - P/O Harold James Stephen Harmer RAFVR (125642).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Basil Dunstan Hall RAFVR (1179843).

Air Gunner - F/Sgt Peter Henry Cameron RAF (639384).

Wellington HE156 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 on 25th November 1942 at Driffield. As a result of damage sustained on 2nd December 1942 minor Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. It was again damaged on 6th February 1943 and Cat.A/FA damage was again the assessment only requiring a repair on site. On 30th June 1943 it received a repair on site at Leconfield by a team from Weybridge though was probably some form of service rather than repairing damage sustained in a flying accident. It continued to serve with 466 Squadron until being transferred to 20 O.T.U. at Lossiemouth on 31st August 1943. It was transferred to 29 O.T.U. at North Luffenham on 15th October 1944 before being placed in MU storage on 26th May 1945. It was eventually struck off charge on 11th March 1948.
S/Ldr Charles Warren's service is very well documented by Simon Muggleton on this website "www.152hyderabad.co.uk/html/w_c_c_warren_d_f_c.html" from which the text below is partly drawn from. He was born in Essex in November 1918 and joined the RAF in 1935 at the bottom as a fitter apprentice. He was later awarded a Cadetship at Cranwell in 1938 and trained as a pilot, he was awarded his Wings in April 1939 and received his commission in October 1939. His first operational squadron was a posting to 152 Squadron initially flying Gladiators but later converting to Spitfires and he remained with them into the Battle of Britain. In late-September 1940 he was posted away, firstly to 419 Flight and then to 12 OTU as an instructor. Towards the end of 1940 he volunteered to transfer to Bomber Command and trained with 15 OTU as an instructor. He was recommended for the AFC for his work with 15 OTU but this came through as a Mention in Despatches on 1st January 1943. He was posted to 466 Squadron on 19th October 1942 as a Flight Commander. For service with 466 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 10th September 1943, the citation reads..

"Following an arduous operational tour during the Battle of Britain he changed to Bomber Aircraft during which as Flight Commander displayed considerable skill and courage whilst on operational sorties to some of the most heavily defended objectives. He is a cool and courageous pilot, who by his personal example has sustained the high morale and fighting spirit of the flight".

Having completed his Tour with 466 Squadron he was posted 19 OTU and then 2 ODU and later to 232 Squadron in Transport Command and then to 243 Squadron where he saw out the War in the Pacific.

He was awarded the MBE on 12th June 1947 following service in post-war Japan, he late returned to the UK and took part in the Berlin Airlift. On 22nd October 1956 he was flying in Ballioi WG184 when it collided with a Chipmunk over Middle Wallop and the trainee he was flying with was killed in the resulting crash. W/Co Warren baled out of the aircraft and survived but left the RAF in 1957. He died in October 2005. His medal set sold at auction in 2007.

Harold Harmer was probably born in the Watford area in 1910. He received his commission on 5th July 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 5th January 1943 and to F/Lt (War Subs) on 5th July 1944. After his time with 466 Squadron he was later posted to 158 Squadron, for service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 4th August 1944, the citation reads..

"This officer has completed a large number of sorties, many of them against heavily defended targets. He is a navigator of high merit whose coolness, determination and ability in difficult and dangerous situations have set an inspiring example. His record is worthy of high praise."

Post War he remained in the RAFVR until relinquishing his commission on 24th January 1948 when he was appointed to a commission in the Secretarial Branch of the Royal Auxillery Air Force as F/O on the same date with seniority of 2nd December 1947. Post-War he served with 601 Aux Squadron. He was promoted to F/Lt on 15th January 1952 and finally relinquished his commission of F/Lt on 24th January 1963. He probably died in Honiton, Devon in 1987.

John Chalmers was an orginal member of 466 Squadron when it formed at Leconfield and had been posted in during 0ctober 1942. He failed to return from Ops to Duisburg on the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 in Wellington HE155. No trace of the aircraft or the crew was ever found and all are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt Chalmers was twenty one years old.
Peter Cameron was awarded the DFC as Warrant Officer for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th October 1944. Nothing more about his service is known.

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