Wellington HE320 damaged by flak, returned to Catfoss airfield.

On the night of 13th May 1943 this 426 Squadron aircraft took off from Dishforth airfield at 23.38hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Bochum. The aircraft was held in searchlights for fifteen minutes just after approaching the last turning point before reaching the target and damaged by flak at the same time. The pilot took evasive action and descended to 12,000ft. Due to the damage the crew jettisoned all their bomb load live in the Krefeld area at 02.15hrs from 13,000ft and made for home. Dispite the damage the crew were able to make a safe return to Yorkshire and land safely at Catfoss airfield at 05.25hrs on 14th May 1943.

Pilot - Sgt Leslie Gordon Sutherland RCAF (R/99732), of Corunna, Ontario, Canada.

Navigator - Sgt William Dunkersley RAFVR (1450680), of Wallasey, Cheshire.

Air Bomber - Sgt Sydney Jepson RAFVR (1211239), of Northampton.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth Howard Masterson RCAF (R/90238), of Preston, Ontario, Canada.

Air Gunner - F/Sgt Levie Afrien Rivest RCAF (R/108468), of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

This crew were flying together on the night of 23rd / 24th May 1943 in Wellington HE281 on Ops to Dortmund when the aircraft was shot down over Holland with the loss of whole crew. Sgt Sutherland (24), Sgt Dunkersley (21), Sgt Jepson (20), Masterson (20) and WO2 Rivest (23) are buried in Haaksbergen General Cemetery, Holland.

On 13th February 1943 Sgt Rivest was training at the gunnery range at Sutton Bank when he was ordered to proceed to the machine gun range by the 426 Squadron Gunnery Leader. Sgt Rivest refused to do as ordered, stating "I am not going in there" or words to that effect. He was charged at District Court Martial for disobeying an order, was found guilty on 2nd April 1943 and severely reprimanded.

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