On the night of 27th / 28th March 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 19.57hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The aircraft received minor flak damage to the rudder, elevator and mainplanes but the crew were able to bring the aircraft back to base and landed at Melbourne at 02.59hrs.
Pilot - F/O Alfred Raymond Dawes RAFVR (109118).
Navigator - P/O Arthur Wilson Parry RCAF (J/16704).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Reginald Eric Bradshaw RAFVR (1385805).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J L Johnson.
Air Gunner - Sgt Don N Brennan.
Flight Engineer - Sgt A G Edwards (probably Sgt Albert George Edwards RAFVR (1191694)).
Air Gunner - Sgt Henry Hutchinson Lewis McDaniel RCAF.
Second Pilot - P/O Andrew.
Halifax HR691 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 30th January 1943. As a result of sustaining flak damage on the night of 27th / 28th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and a repair on site was carried out at Melbourne. On the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 it again sustained flak damage. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it had a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment made on 19th / 20th April 1943. As the aircraft was not used operationally between 9th April 1943 and this date it probably relates to the assessment after the flak damage a week earlier. A repair on site at Melbourne was begun and it was not until 20th May 1943 that it was returned to 10 Squadron at Melbourne. On 20th September 1943 the aircraft transferred to 466 Squadron at Leconfield where it carried the squadron code "HD-N". On 12th March 1944 it was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall. On 30th July 1944 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage at Riccall airfield following a heavy landing. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 1658 H.C.U. on 21st August 1944. On 11th October 1944 it was transferred to 1669 H.C.U. at Langar but on 16th December 1944 it crashed there after suffering an engine failure on take off. Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 30th December 1944.
Alfred Dawes received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 25th September 1941. He was later promoted to F/O (war subs) on 25th September 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 25th September 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943, the citation for which reads.."This officer has participated in numerous anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay, and also in bombing attacks on targets such as Berlin. Stettin, Essen and Duisburg. On several occasions his aircraft has been damaged and he has been forced to make crash landings. These harassing experiences have not in any way diminished his enthusiasm lor operational flying." He reliquished his commission in the RAF on the grounds of being medically unfit for service on 2nd November 1945 but retained his rank, the reasons surrounding this are not yet known as it could have been the result of being injured in one of the incidents his DFC citation refers to. He had survived the crash of Halifax R9493 at Marston Moor on 2nd December 1942.
Henry McDaniel was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th September 1943. The citation was also fairly detailed.. "Pilot Officer McDaniel, an outstanding member of a particularly successful crew, has consistently displayed keenness and devotion to duty, showing complete fearlessness in the face of danger. His aircraft has been badly damaged on at least six occasions and has also been involved in two crashes. Despite these trying experiences this officer has continued to operate with undiminished ardour, efficiency and enthusiasm."
Arthur Parry was also awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th January 1944, the citation reads.. "This officer has participated in a large number of sorties, involving attacks on important and well defended targets. He is an extremely skilful navigator, whose faultless work has played a good part in the successes obtained. Not once has he failed to guide his pilot to the allotted target and back to base. His example of courage and determination has been highly commendable."
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