On the night of 14th / 15th April 1943 all of those named above were flying an operational flight to bomb Stuttgart in Wellington HZ256. They left base at 21.01hrs but before they reached the target they were attacked by a night fighter and Sgt Ernest Field sustained fatal injuries. Three other members of the crew were less seriously injured but they continued to the target and released their bomb load. Owing to the injuries to the crew, the damage to the aircraft and a lack of fuel Sgt Hicks crash landed at Ford airfield on their return to England at 04.15hrs. Sgt Ernest Field was twenty five years old and was later buried at Northampton Cemetery. All four surviving airmen were decorated for their actions on this raid, their joint citations listed below add much more detail. Edward Hicks was awarded the CGM, Raymond Hopkins was awarded the DSO, reginald Clayton was awarded the DFC and Frederick Blair received the DFM. Pictured above (left to right) are Hopkins, Blair, Hicks and Clayton about to received their medals. Notification of their awards was printed in the London Gazette dated 14th May 1943 and it reads..

"In April 1943, Pilot Officer Hopkins, Flying Officer Clayton and Sergeants Hicks and Blair were air bomber, navigator, captain and wireless operator respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in the Ruhr. Over Germany the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. The first burst of fire from the attacker fatally injured the rear gunner and wounded the air bomber, navigator and wireless operator. The fighter made a second attack but Sergeant Hicks avoided its gunfire by turning steeply under the enemy aircraft which was not seen again. Although the hydraulic and brake systems of the bomber were damaged, causing the wheels to drop down and the bomb doors to open, the crew decided to continue their mission. Pilot Officer Hopkins, the air bomber, although suffering from a compound fracture of the arm and, at times, only retaining consciousness with great difficulty, displayed unsurpassed determination by directing his pilot to the target and bombing it successfully. On the return flight, Pilot Officer Hopkins, Flying Officer Clayton and Sergeant Blair laboured for more than 2 hours to assist the mortally wounded rear gunner, extricating him from his turret and administering morphia; some of their efforts were made whilst flying at 15,000 feet and without oxygen. Sergeant Hicks eventually flew the damaged aircraft to an airfield in this country, where he effected a landing without the aid of flaps. These members of aircraft crew displayed great courage, fortitude and determination in most hazardous circumstances."

The squadron ORB lists P/O Hopkins as being posted to SHQ at Driffield while Clayton and Blair appear to have initially remained at Leconfield to recover as there is no mention of them joining him at Driffield in April 1943. Reginald Clayton was posted to SSQ at Driffield in May 1943.

Sgt Hicks next flew operationally on 22nd February 1943 but with a completely different crew. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 18th May 1943 (146868). He continued his service with 466 Squadron and was awarded the DFC with them, Gazetted on 16th November 1943. He was then promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 18th November 1943. He was later Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1945. He was granted the rank of F/Lt (war subs) on 22nd April 1945. Post-war he remained in the RAFVR until 4th October 1957 when he relinquished his commission while in the rank of F/Lt but retaining the rank of S/Ldr.