In the early hours of 1st May 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 00.10hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Essen. The aircraft bombed the target area at 02.47hrs from 18,000 feet through thick cloud cover, around the of releasing their bomb load the aircraft received flak damage which made a hole in the outer portion of the port wing. The crew were able to bring the aircraft back to base and landed at Melbourne at 05.00hrs.
Pilot - Sgt George Kenneth Frank Wade RAFVR (1217301).
Navigator - P/O Walter Gabriel O'Toole RAFVR (125560).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Norman Pullan RAFVR (1096578).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald Arthur Gale RAFVR (1379695).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Henry Beaton RAFVR (1394027).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ivan Maurice Gladwell RAF (574919).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald William Hainsworth RAFVR (1321011).
Halifax HR695 was built to contract 1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett. On 30th January 1943 it was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne. As a result of battle damage on 26th February 1943, 12th March 1943 and 1st May 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage assessments took place and repairs on site were carried out each time. As a result of further battle damage on 14th May 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment. On 28th May 1943 and then 26th June 1943 minor Cat.A/FB battle damage occurred with a repair on site being made each time. On 29th November 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall. On 24th September 1944 it was transferred to the newly formed 1669 H.C.U. at Langar. On 19th February 1945 it must have failed a major inspection so was sent for a repair at a works factory at Doncaster but on 6th March 1945 a further assessment saw it struck off charge.
Ronald Hainsworth was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted in August 1943. While in the rank of W/O on 7th March 1945 whilst serving with 35 Squadron he was killed flying as a rear gunner on an operational flight. The aircraft was attacked by enemy aircraft. He succeeded in shooting down the first attacker but another fatally injured him and damaged the turret. The attacker was driven off by the mid upper gunner and other members of the crew then went to assist Hainsworth. He was found partly hanging out of the turret and could not be brought back inside. Believing that he was already dead all that could be done was the push him out of the aircraft and pull his parachute cord. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery. The aircraft returned to the UK.
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