Halifax HR783 damaged by flak, returned to Melbourne airfield.
On the night of 4th / 5th May 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Dortmund and took off from Snaith airfield at 22.56hrs. The crew dropped the bomb load over the target but almost immediately the aircraft was hit in the port engine by flak which caught fire. The crew put the fire out and were able to return to Yorkshire, landing at Melbourne airfield at 04.52hrs.
Pilot - P/O Geoffrey Winston Woodward RAFVR (139497).
Navigator - F/O Arthur George Wingrave RAFVR (120628).
Air Bomber - P/O Matthew Gibb RAFVR (131773).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O George Ivor Donkersley RAFVR (107458).
Flight Engineer - Sgt F Tipton.
Air Gunner - Sgt L Clark.
Air Gunner - Sgt Basil Raymond Fyfield RAFVR (1322336).
Matthew Gibb received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 3rd November 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 3rd May 1943 and F/Lt on 6th November 1944 (not the usual 18 month promotion to F/Lt).
Arthur Wingrave received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 19th January 1942 and was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt on 19th January 1944. Postwar he remained in the RAFVR until 20th September 1956.
George Donkersley received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 26th September 1941 and was promoted to F/O on 26th September 1942 and F/Lt on 26th September 1943. After the War he too remained in the RAFVR and he relinquished his commission of S/Ldr in the RAF Reserve of Officers on 24th December 1975.
Halifax HR783 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Snaith on 31st March 1943. During its life it sustained battle damage on a number of occasions. On 5th May 1943, 28th May 1943, 24th June 1943, 4th July 1943 and also on 14th July 1943 Cat.A/FB resulted each time from flak damage and a repair on site was carried out each time. On 6th August 1943 the aircraft crashed at Crockey Hill, York that saw seven airmen killed. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 16th August 1943. It had logged 140 flying hours in total from new.
Geoffrey Woodward received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 6th January 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943 and the citation reads.."One night in April 1943, this officer was the captain of a bomber detailed to attack Stettin. On the outward flight, whilst still a considerable distance from the target, 1 of the engines failed. Despite this, Pilot Officer Woodward continued his flight to the target which he ultimately bombed successfully. Displaying superb airmanship he flew the bomber to base on 3 engines and effected a perfect landing. By his great skill, courage and dogged determination, this officer set a most inspiring example."
Soon after this he was awarded the Bar to the DFC, Gazetted on 9th July 1943. He was promoted to F/O on 6th July 1943. He was later posted to 158 Squadron and was killed on 25th October 1944 while flying Ops to Essen in Halifax MZ945, all of his crew were able to bale out of the flak damaged aircraft, he was last to leave and while on his parachute he was shot at and killed by ground forces. He is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Basil Fyfield was killed on 14th May 1943 while flying Ops to Plzen in Halifax DT526, he is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Also in the same aircraft were Sgt Tipton, F/Lt Wingrave, F/O Gibb and F/Lt Donkersley who also all baled out of the aircraft after it was badly damaged by flak.
Sgt Tipton must have been posted to 51 Squadron after October 1942 because as a flight engineer 51 Squadron would have no need for him prior to this as they flew Whitleys. They converted in October-December 1942 and while his name is not listed in the squadron ORB as having been posted in he first flew operationally in early January 1943.