Halifax HR667 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the evening of 3rd April 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Essen, they took off from Pocklington at 19.45hrs and bombed the target area from around 18,000ft. The aircraft was hit by flak over the target area and damage was caused to the starboard outer tank, the port wheel cover and a bomb door was left hanging down. The pilot was able to make a safe landing at 00.45hrs at Pocklington on 4th April 1943.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Carey RNZAF (NZ.41506).
Navigator - P/O P A Morris.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt A E Jones.
Air Gunner - Sgt Wilf Bell.
Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon Babbage RAFVR (1613415).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Anthony Horace Allmond RAF (542582).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J M Clements.
Anthony Allmond received a commission on 16th August 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation, he was promoted to F/O on 16th February 1944 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 16th August 1945. Post War he remained in the RAF and transferred to the Technical Branch on 13th March 1949 and finally retired at his own request on 30th September 1961 as F/Lt.
Gordon Babbage later served with 156 PFF Squadron.
Arthur Carey was awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th January 1944 while in the rank of Acting F/Lt.
Halifax HR667 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 13th January 1943. As a result of sustaining flak damage on 13th March 1943, 30th March 1943, 4th April 1943 and 21st April 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage resulted each time and a repair on site was all that was required each time. On 5th May 1943 the aircraft failed to return from an operational flight to bomb Dortmund and subsequently crashed near Dokkum, Holland with the loss of seven crew. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge on 18th May 1943 once the paperwork caught up. It wasn't until 31st January 1947 that the crash site location was confirmed by No.3 Base Recovery Unit (B.R.U.) (which was a salvage unit operating in Europe).