On the night of 2nd / 3rd August 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron Wellington were one crew of fifteen from the unit undertaking an operational flight to bomb Hamburg and had taken off from Leconfield at 23.32hrs. The aircraft was over the target at 02.28hrs and the crew released their bombs from 16,000 feet. Crews reported a thunderstorm with icing conditions effecting the control of aircraft while over the target, this Wellington was also slightly damaged by flak in the starboard wing and despite the damage the crew were able to make a safe return to base, landing at Leconfield at 06.03hrs.
Pilot - P/O John Francis McMullan RAAF (406660).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Norman Charles Law RAAF (415432).
Navigator - F/Sgt Norman Gregor McIntyre RAAF (414154).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt George Ridley (949503).
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Eric Charles RAAF (412902).
John McMullan was still serving with 466 Squadron on 22nd June 1944 and was killed when Halifax LW116 failed to return from an operational flight to bomb a V-1 flying bomb storage site at Siracourt. He is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, France.
Thomas Charles, George Ridley and Norman Law were later posted to 97 Squadron and both were killed on 30th January 1944 when Lancaster JB535 failed to return from an operational flight to Berlin. The aircraft crashed in Holland after being shot down by a night-fighter. They are buried in Barsingerhorn General Cemetery, Holland.
McIntyre was also posted to 97 Squadron and was killed on 16th December 1943 on Ops to Berlin when Lancaster JA963 failed to return. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. 97 Squadron lost eight aircraft on this night mainly down to crashes on return to England because of the weather.
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