Wellington HE350 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On 29th June 1943 this 429 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an operational flight to attack Cologne when it suffered minor flak damage over
Germany, the crew were able to land safely at East Moor at 04.29hrs where it was soon repaired. The full names of this crew are not yet known.
Pilot - Sgt Joseph Felix Henri Turcotte RCAF (R/55435).
Navigator - Sgt Larry E Ford RCAF (R/139837).
Air Bomber - Sgt Jack S Stokes / Stoker RCAF (R/107711).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Murray F Tupper RCAF (R/124602).
Airr Gunner - Sgt Lloyd Stanley Lafoy RCAF (R/130983).
Lloyd Lafoy was from Lloydminister, Saskatchewan, Canada. He served in 425 Squadron, 426 Squadron and 429 Squadron. He died in 2019.
P/O M F Tupper then returned to 429 Squadron on 17th June 1944 from 432 Squadron. A Canadian newspaper report in early 1944 gives a WO2 N F Tupper, of Port Williams, Nova Scotia serving with 426 Squadron which is also probably him.
Sgt Turcotte was the pilot of a 425 Squadron Wellington that overshot on landing on 4th / 5th April 1943 from Ops damaging the propellers and the nose of the aircraft probably at Dishforth airfield. Sgt Turcotte was found guilty at District Court Martial on 25th May 1943 for striking Sgt J A Cooper RAFVR (1046392) in the left eye on 22nd April 1943 at Dishforth. 425 Squadron were posted overseas in May 1943 and it seems likely that some of their aircrew were not posted overseas. All of those named above were also on the books of 426 Squadron around that time, and all arrived at 429 Squadron, probably as a complete crew, on 26th June 1943. Their stay at East Moor was only brief, they were posted out to Linton on Ouse with the Squadron on 22nd July 1943.
Sgt Ford may well have been Lawrence Eagleton Ford RCAF, later commissioned in 1944 (J/85684). He was born in 1916 and was living in Kelvington, Saskatchewan when he enlisted in Saskatoon in November 1941. He was recommended for the DFC on 1st August 1944 when he had flown thirty three operational flights (188 hours flying), with 425 Squadron at the time, the recommendation reads.. "Pilot Officer Ford has recently completed a tour of operations which includes offensive sorties against such major targets as Frankfurt, Augsburg, Leipzig, Dusseldorf and Karlsruhe. He has distinguished himself in all of these operations by his outstanding skill and a navigator and his cool courage in the face of danger. By his undaunted determination and outstanding devotion to duty, this officer has always directed his aircraft to the target and
brought it back safely to base. He has set a fine example and inspired confidence to other members of his crew." The DFC was granted and the notification was printed in the London Gazette on 17th November 1944.
Wellington HE350 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's at Chester and was delivered to MU storage in December 1942, it was issued to 429 Squadron at East Moor on 11th June 1943. It suffered Cat.A/FB flak damage on 29th June 1943 and was repaired on site with the repairs being completed by 3rd July 1943. It then suffered damage due to the undercarriage collapsing on landing on 26th July 1943. Cat.Ac/FA damage must have been the damage assessment as it remained at 429 Squadron. On 4th August 1943 it was slightly damaged by flak and was again repaired on site at East Moor, Cat.A/FB damage probably being the damage assessment. None of the three damage incidents at East Moor are recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. The one on 26th July 1943 sounds on the face of it to be fairly serious damage. On completion of these final repairs in August it was issued to 1485 Target Towing Flight at Skellingthorpe on 13th August 1943. On 20th September 1943 both engines cut on take off and it crashed two miles north-east of Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge.