On 15th May 1943 this 428 Squadron aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it sustained minor Cat.Ac/FA damage. How this occurred is not yet known. Nothing is listed in the unit or station record books that could relate to damage sustained in a flying accident.
Crew - Names unknown.
Wellington HE319 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was taken on charge by 428 Squadron at Dalton on 15th April 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 5th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site at Dalton. On 12th May 1943 while circling to gain height after taking off for Ops to Duisberg the pilot's escape hatch blew open, in attempting to close it the handle broke off. The crew immediately landed without further incident. It was repaired and used operationally the following night. Cat.A/FA damage would have been as serious as the damage got if indeed it was logged. On 15th May 1943 the aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage but how this occurred is not yet known. The aircraft was repaired on site by a team from Vickers from Weybridge and was returned to 428 Squadron on 21st May 1943. On 30th May 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Wuppertal that saw its then crew of five killed. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork.
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