Halifax HR654 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th February 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. They took off from Leeming at 18.15hrs and the aircraft was hit by flak and slightly damaged over Germany. The pilot was able to bring the aircraft back to the UK and landed at base of Leeming at 01.13hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Ebenezer Alfred Sirett RCAF (R/100495).
Navigator - F/Sgt R E Carter.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Grant Alexander Fletcher RCAF (R/98729).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O John Dugald McBride RCAF (J/9850).
Air Gunner - Sgt Gilbert Davies Boyer RCAF (R/90535).
Air Gunner - Sgt Franklyn Roy Burke RCAF (R/104185).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Kenneth Oliver Brice RAFVR (922835).
All of the above except the navigator listed were killed on 4th April 1943 flying in Halifax JB866 on Ops to Essen when the aircraft crashed in Holland after being shot down by a night fighter. All are buried in Uden War Cemetery, Holland.
Halifax DT654 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 21st December 1942 it was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming. As a result of the battle damage on 4th February 1943 Cat.A/FB was the assessment and it was repaired on site at Leeming. On 30th March 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Berlin, Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and six of the seven crew were killed, with one becoming a PoW. The aircraft was struck off charge on 5th April 1943.