Halifax HR724 damaged in the air, landed at Lissett airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 this 158 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Lissett airfield at 22.59hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 17,000 feet at 01.06hrs but while over the target area the aircraft received flak damage to the port outer engine and fuselage. Despite this damage the crew flew back to base and landed safely at Lissett at 03.29hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Daniel Bulmer Everett RAFVR (1263497).
Second Pilot - Sgt C J T Walter.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Gordon Ireland RCAF (R/71968).
Navigator - Sgt Norman Sydney Raymond McMinn RAFVR (1385305).
Air Bomber - Sgt Albert Walter Bennett RAFVR (1379973).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Joseph Tudor RAFVR (1063420).
Air Gunner - Sgt Raymond Stephen Courtnay RAFVR (1397530).
Air Gunner - Sgt Bernard James Healy RAFVR (1335475).
On 18th November 1943 F/Sgt Healy had been posted to 35 Squadron when he died while flying in Halifax HX169 when the oxygen system failed on Ops, he had been wearing an obsolete oxygen mask. He is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery.
Halifax HR724 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was delivered to 45 M.U. at Kinloss on 22nd February 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 158 Squadron at Lissett on 24th March 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 28th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On 13th June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Bochum which saw three of the crew killed. Cat.E(m) damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 16th June 1943 having clocked up 116 hours total flying from.