Wellington HE486 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
On the night of 16th / 17th April 1943 this 425 Squadron Wellington was flown on an operational flight to bomb Mannheim. The crew took off from Dishforth at 21.19hrs and reached the target area at 01.12hrs, they released their bomb load from 15,500 feet. The crew landed safely at 04.53hrs at Dishforth and the squadron records do not mention the aircraft being damaged at all. The No.61 Base record book does specifically mention this aircraft as damaged on Ops on this night, it sustained minor flak damage to a fuel tank in the port wing.
Pilot - P/O Ralph Adrian Stutt RCAF (J/16178)
Navigator - P/O Joseph Roland Gerard Dube RCAF.
Bomb Aimer - P/O H R Manning.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O E C Hodgson.
Air Gunner - Sgt W D Pettit.
Wellington HE486 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was flown to 18 MU at Dumfries on 2nd February 1943. On 14th March 1943 it was taken on charge by 425 Squadron at Dishforth. As a result of flak damage sustained on 17th April 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 425 Squadron on 26th April 1943. On 16th May 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 30 OTU at Hixon but on 21st May 1943 it required a repair for unknown reasons by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 30 OTU on 10th June 1943. On 1st November 1944 it was in need of a Cat.B repair, probably in a works factory. On 2nd February 1945 it was returned to 30 OTU charge but they were now based at Gamston. On 17th April 1945 major inspection deemed that a repair in a works factory was required so it was taken to Brooklands Aviation Ltd. On 4th September 1945 the aircraft was awaiting collection and nine days later it was flown to storage at 48 MU at Hawarden. On 30th December 1948 it was struck off charge and sold for scrap.