Halifax HR716 damaged in the air, landed at Lissett airfield.
During the early hours of 4th December 1943 the crew of this 158 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Leipzig and took off from Lissett airfield at 00.09hrs. the crew released their bomb load over the target at 04.00hrs from 18,000 feet. While over the target area the aircraft was struck from above by a falling 4lb incendiary bomb dropped from a higher flying aircraft, it lodged in the port tailplane and damaged it. A fire broke out but the pilot put the aircraft into a dive and the wind extinguished the flames. Despite the damage the crew flew the aircraft back to base, landing at Lissett at 08.16hrs.
Pilot - P/O Keith Shambler Simpson RAAF (414166).
Navigator - P/O Eric Thome Heard RAF (54037).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Derek Joseph Hemsley RAFVR (168620).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Walter Suddaby RAFVR (1495722).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie James Terrett RAAF (418711).
Air Gunner - Sgt Malcolm John McKay RAAF (425042).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Thomas James Barnett RAFVR (1174351).