Halifax HR783 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
On 13th July 1943 this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 23.44hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Aachen. The
aircraft suffered a few small holes caused by flak over the target area and they released their bombs at 01.51hrs from 18,000ft.
The crew were able to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire and they landed safely at Snaith airfield in the early hours of
14th July 1943 at 05.07hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Eric James Jones RAFVR (1248002).
Navigator - Sgt William Charles Wallace RAFVR (657762).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Walter Agar Leopold Huddy RAFVR (1319885).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Reid RAFVR (1367429).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Joshua Crowther RAFVR (1514591).
Air Gunner - Sgt John Ritchie RAFVR (1341377).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Bennett York RAAF (420098).
This crew were killed on Ops on 25th / 26th July 1943 flying Halifax HR749 on Ops to Essen and were lost without trace. They are all
commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. It was possible that the aircraft was shot down over the North Sea by a night-fighter.
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.