Wellington HE160 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 the crew of this 429 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen when it was slightly damaged by flak, the crew brought the aircraft safely back to the UK and landed at base of East Moor at 00.20hrs.
Pilot - Acting F/Lt Alban Philip Sidney Chipling RAFVR (108178).
Navigator - F/O Oliver Nelson Watson Baker RCAF (J/97804).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Ralph Isaac Benner RCAF (J/8811).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Cecil Edmonds RAF (643239).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick William Ronald Litson RAFVR (903458).
Oliver Baker began operational flying on 11th October 1942 on a Whitley and later flew with 429 Squadron. He was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 16th January 1945. He was serving at Skipton on Swale when the recommendation was submitted and was in the rank of S/Ldr.
Frederick Edmonds received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 4th May 1943 (52021). He was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 4th November 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 4th May 1945. He was awarded the DFC for service with 429 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th October 1943.
Alban Chipling received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th September 1941. He was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 30th September 1942 and F/Lt (war subs) on 17th July 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 429 Squadron, Gazetted on 7th December 1943. By the end of 1944 he was instructing at 1669 HCU. He died on 23rd April 1945 as a result of the crash of Harvard FT232 crashing near Southrop, Gloucestershire, S/Ldr Chipling was thirty one year old and is buried in Chippenham Cemetery, Wiltshire.
Wellington HE160 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 429 Squadron at East Moor on 1st December 1942. As a result of flak damage sustained on the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment which saw it being repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 429 Squadron on 3rd April 1943. The aircraft was transferred to 27 O.T.U. at Lichfield on 20th June 1943. It remained at 27 OTU until 10th November 1944 when it passed to 8 MU. On 25th June 1946 the aircraft was struck off charge.
Frederick Litson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 4th May 1943 (145432) and rose to F/O on 4th November 1943 and F/Lt on 4th May 1945. He was awarded the DFC for service with 429 Squadron, Gazetted on 10th December 1943.