On the night of 25th / 26th June 1943 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft took off from Melbourne airfield at 23.25hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Gelsenkirchen. They bombed the target area at 01.29hrs from 20,000 feet on the PFF target markers but while over the target area the aircraft received minor flak damage to the tail plane, starboard outer engine and the nose perspex. Despite the damage the crew managed to make the return to base and landed at Melbourne at 04.00hrs.
Pilot - Sgt James Miller Dunlop RAFVR (1344781).
Navigator - P/O Sidney Edwin Stapley RAFVR (134383).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Charles John Lindsay Dunlop RAFVR (1554654).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Henry Brian Bilton RAFVR.
Air Gunner - Sgt Hadyn Lewis RAF (550574).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Frederick George Cowler RAFVR (1087690).
Air Gunner - Sgt D R Woodward.
On 15th September 1943 all of the above apart from Sgt Woodward were flying together in Halifax HR920 on Ops to Montlucon when the aircraft crashed in France. Dunlop, Dunlop and Cowler were killed, Stapley and Lewis were made PoW while Bilton managed to evade capture. Those who died are buried at Ecorei Churchyard.
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.
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