Halifax HR713 damaged on Ops, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th March 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Berlin, they took off from Leeming airfield around 19.58hrs. The aircraft was attacked twice by an unidentified single engine aircraft and was damaged. The Halifax was also slightly damaged by flak but the crew were able to return to the UK, landing at Leeming at 05.40hrs on 28th March 1943.
Pilot - F/Sgt F W Wood RCAF (R/76545).
Navigator - F/Sgt L J Palmer.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt John Henry McNess RAFVR (1391023).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner? - Sgt L W Fairbanks.
Wireless Operator? / Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Berton Cameron RCAF (R/92203).
Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Vincent John Raymond Veys RCAF (R/104910).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert William Duncanson RAFVR (972332).
Second Pilot - F/Sgt Francis Henry Leaver RCAF (R/74333).
Halifax HR713 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 18th February 1943 it was flown to 18 M.U. at Dumfrie. On 16th March 1943 it was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming. As a result of flak damage sustained on the night of 26th / 27th March 1943 on Ops to Duisburg Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment. It was repaired on site at Leeming overnight. The following night on Ops to Berlin on 27th / 28th March 1943 it was damaged by flak and a night-fighter. Cat.A/FB was again the damage assessment and it was again repaired on site at Leeming. On 4th April 1943 it crashed into the North Sea off Holland on Ops to Essen with the loss of the whole crew. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge when the paperwork caught up on 12th April 1943. The aircraft had flown just over 37 hours in total from new.
On 2nd February 1943 Wood, Palmer and Cameron were flying in Halifax DT682 on a transit flight when an engine caught fire and Sgt Wood made a forced landing in Nottinghamshire, all on board sustained injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. Sgt Wood crash landed Halifax DT673 at Leeming on 4th April 1943. Nothing more is known about his wartime days other than that he signed his name on the famous Betty's Tea Room mirror in York.
Joseph Veys was still serving with 408 Squadron when he was killed on 28th May 1943 when Halifax DT674 crashed in Germany. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
John McNess received a commission on 25th June 1943 (to the rank of P/O on probation) and on that night, the 25th / 26th June 1943 he was killed flying in Halifax JB858 on Ops to bomb Gelsenkirchen. He was thirty three years old and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Robert Duncanson was born in 1911 in Rothwell, Dumfries but later lived in Middlesbrough. He received his commission on 5th April 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 5th October 1943. The mishap at Leeming occurred on the return from his 15th operational flight and he did not fly operationally again until 25th July 1943. He later served with 432 Squadron and was awarded the DFC with them, Gazetted on 8th December 1944 while in the rank of Acting F/Lt. Hugh Halliday's awards research has found the recommendation for his DFC dated 9th September 1944 when he had flown thirty operational flights between 9th January 1943 and 9th June 1944 and it stated that.. "This officer has a fine operational record of attacks on many major targets. Throughout his tour he has displayed a high standard of proficiency, skill and keen devotion to duty. Flight Lieutenant Duncanson has been the Squadron Engineer Leader for the past ten months and in that capacity his ability and success in developing new crews has consistently been of the highest order." "For his splendid record of achievement in his ground duties as well as in the air, this officer is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross." He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 5th April 1945. Post-War he remained in the RAF and was promoted to F/Lt on 1st November 1946 (with seniority of 5th October 1946). He transferred to the Aircraft Control Branch of the RAF on 5th November 1951 (with seniority of 5th April 1949) and finally retired on 13th August 1961.
Francis Leaver had earlier served with 132 Squadron within Fighter Command before being posted to Bomber Command training. On 9th December 1941 he was flying Hurricane Z5051 on a ferry flight with No.4 Delivery Flight and he ran into bad weather and forced landed at Rochester, Northumberland sustaining minor injuries. He later transferred to Bomber Command and was killed flying with 434 Squadron on 31st August 1943 when Halifax LK894 failed to return from Ops. He is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.
Sgt Fairbanks was posted from 408 Squadron to 22 OTU on 3rd May 1943 and then to 20 OTU on 17th May 1943.
On 29th August 1942 Sgt Wood was flying 408 Squadron Hampden AE289 when it overshot on landing at Derby coming to rest in a ditch and amongst barbed wire.