Halifax HR668 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 14th / 15th May 1943 this aircraft was one belonging to 102 Squadron that had carried out an operational flight to bomb Bochum, this crew set out at 23.38hrs and were releasing the bomb load when a flak burst a flak burst close to the front of the aircraft damaged the nose perspex and temporarily blinded the bomb aimer. The crew released the bomb load from 17,500 feet. They were able to make a safe return to base, landing safely at Pocklington at 05.37hrs.
Pilot - Sgt James Newell Whitehouse RAFVR (155020).
Navigator - F/O Geoffrey Salter Smith RAFVR (129363).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Charles Brown RAFVR (1313225).
Air Gunner - Sgt W T N Dolan.
Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Turner RAFVR (950345).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Milton Spencer RAFVR (954342).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Crosby Frank Read RAFVR (127125).
P/O Whitehouse, F/O Smith, Sgt Brown, F/Sgt Turner and Sgt Spencer were killed on 26th July 1943 when Halifax JD169 failed to return from an operational flight to Essen . They have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
F/O Read killed on 13th / 14th July 1943 when 102 Squadron Halifax JD297 failed to return from Ops to Aachen and the aircraft crashed in France. He is buried in Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, France.
Halifax HR668 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 flak damage on the nights of 14th / 15th April 1943 and then on 14th / 15th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment each time that saw a repair on site twice made. The aircraft was badly damaged by flak on the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 that saw holes created all over the fuselage and elevator damaged. Where the crew landed the aircraft is not stated in the squadron records. The damage was assessed as being repairable Cat.B/FB. On 28th June 1943 it was taken to the repair facility at Y.A.R.D. for a repair in works. The aircraft was ready for collection on 13th November 1943. On 24th November 1943 it was flown to 48 M.U. at Hawarden and it was taken on charge by 1662 Heavy Conversion Unit at Blyton on 20th December 1943. On 23rd April 1944 it received Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident but this was re-assessed as Re.Cat.B as it was sent to Y.A.R.D. again on 6th June 1944 for another repair in works. While the repair was being done it was further assessed and deemed Re.Cat.E on 27th June 1944 and struck off charge.