Wellington HE177 damaged on operations, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 6th / 7th February 1943 the crew of this 428 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a mine laying flight to lay mines in the waters around the Frisian Islands. This aircraft took off at 17.25hrs. Flak was reported as heavy and while taking violent evasive action the fabric tore off the port side of the fuselage near the front turret. Due to poor weather the crew were unable to locate the dropping point so returned with the load. They made a safe landing at Dishforth at 23.18hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Robert Marshall Buckham RCAF.
? - P/O Nicholas Weber Rodin RCAF (J/10716).
? - Sgt A C Cox.
? - Sgt Jack Dean Fraser RCAF (R/107078).
? - Sgt D N Christie.
? - Sgt J G Taylor.
Wellington HE177 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 428 Squadron at Dalton on 5th December 1943. As a result of minor damage sustained on 6th February 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. It then returned to 428 Squadron and was used until it crashed at East Moor on 22rd May 1943. After this second incident Cat.E/FB damage was the assessment and it was written off.
Bob Buckham was born in Toronto in August 1918 and was working as a graphic artist when he enlisted into the RCAF. He flew nine operational flights with 428 Squadron. P/O Buckham, F/O Rodin and Sgt Fraser were flying Ops to Duisburg on the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 in Wellington DF635 when the aircraft was attacked by a night-fighter over the target area and was seriously damaged. All the crew all baled out and survived to become prisoners of war. Bob Buckham later spent time in the camp made famous by the Great Escape and his skills as an artist were used by the escape commitee, he also survived the forced POW marches in 1945. He later returned home to Canada where he died in December 2003.