Halifax HR780 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 22.54hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 18,000 feet at 00.12hrs but while over the target area the aircraft received flak damage to the wings and the perspex in the nose. Despite this damage the crew flew back to base and landed safely at Lissett at 04.02hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Ninian Robson McDonald RNZAF (NZ.414336).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Albert John Gardner RAFVR (1289316).
Navigator - F/O Sidney Arthur Walton RAFVR (129362).
Air Bomber - F/O Arthur Henry Boyle RAFVR (127128).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Hamilton RAFVR (1379006).
Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Catto Soang RAF (647800).
Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth Hector Crichton McLennan RAFVR (1443130).
On 30th July 1943 all were flying in Halifax JD277 when it failed to return from an operational flight to Hamburg. F/O Boyle became a PoW. Everyone else was killed with F/Sgt McDonald and Sgt Gardner having no known grave and being commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, the remainder are buried in Kiel War Cemetery.
Halifax HR780 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge as new by 158 Squadron at Lissett on 29th March 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 28h May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 24th September 1943 it sustained Cat.B/FB after landing from Ops to Mannheim. A repair was made at the Halifax repair depot at Y.A.R.D. but it took until 14th January 1944 for it to be ready for collection. On 21st January 1944 the aircraft was flown to 45 M.U. at Kinloss. On 9th February 1944 it was taken on charge by 419 Squadron at Middleton St.George. On 24th April 1944 the aircraft was transferred to 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton and on 9th August 1944 it was badly damaged in a crash landing at Sadberge, Durham after suffering both starboard engines fail in flight. Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 25th August 1944.