Wellington HF494 damaged by flak, landed at Driffield airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th July 1943 the crew of this 432 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Cologne when it sustained flak damage. On the return to Yorkshire the crew made a safe landing at Driffield airfield.
Pilot - S/Ldr William Arthur McKay RCAF (J/15175).
Air Gunner - Sgt Paul Joseph Power RCAF.
Probable crew...
Navigator - Sgt Leo Frederick Cook RCAF (R/144405).
Air Bomber/Observer - F/O R? A Watts.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O J Bennett.
Wellington HF494 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd at Chester and was delivered to 51 MU on 14th May 1943. It was taken on charge by 432 Squadron at Skipton on Swale on 5th June 1943. It was slightly damaged by flak on the night of 3rd / 4th July 1943 and must have been immediately repaired on site. During the airtest in which it then crashed on 19th July 1943 was probably being made after the repairs following the repair. It was written off following this incident with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded following assessment.
William McKay was later awarded the DFC for service with 432 Squadron, Gazetted on 21st April 1944 following a long tour of operations that began on 24th July 1941.
P/O Paul Power was killed flying with 432 Squadron on 2nd February 1944 when Lancaster LL686 crashed at Aldborough. He is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Leo Cook was on board 432 Squadron Wellington HE817 when it was reported as missing on 27th September 1943 on Ops to Hannover. F/Sgt Cook was killed. In November 2007 I was contacted by the niece of Leo Cook, she informed me that the aircraft crashed on Schulensbergerlandstrasse 107 in Hannover, Germany and that an inquest in October 1948 confirmed the bodies of four airmen were found but unidentifiable and buried in Hannover War Cemetery having been found in the wreckage of this aircraft at the time. I would like to thank Ms K. Pakenham for contacting me and for this additional information. An account of the loss of Wellington HE817 is now to be found on "www.aircrewremembered.com". F/Sgt Cook was twenty two years old.