Wellington HE379 damaged by flak, landed at Burn airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 the crew of this 431 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Burn at 19.20hrs. The aircraft was slightly damaged by flak over Germany but the crew were able to bring the aircraft back to base and landed at Burn at 00.25hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Ernest Joseph Aspden RAFVR (1236891).
Navigator - Sgt D T Dudley-Jones RAFVR (1315711).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt John Henry Kimber RAFVR (1319181).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Philip Frank Yellin RCAF (R/77427).
Air Gunner - Sgt Roderick Davies RAFVR (1338839).
Wellington HE379 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in October 1942. The date the aircraft was received by 45 Mu on 29th October 1942 and was taken on charge by 431 Squadron at Burn on 31st December 1942. As a result of battle damage sustained on 13th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site at Burn. The aircraft's AM Form 78 lists it having a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment on 30th March 1943 that saw it repaired on site with it being returned to 431 Squadron on 16th April 1943. The aircraft was lost on an operational flight to bomb Mannheim on 16th / 17th April 1943 which killed one member of it's then crew. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and the aircraft was struck off charge on 30th April 1943.
On the night of 29th / 30th March 1943 this crew were flying Wellington HE182 on Ops to Bochum when the aircraft crashed in Germany. Sgt Dudley-Jones survived but became a PoW but the other four were killed. They are now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.