Halifax HR837 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 22.48hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto the target area from 18,000 feet at 01.03hrs but while over the target area the aircraft received flak damage to the perspex in the nose by heavy flak. Despite this damage the crew flew back to base and landed safely at Lissett at 03.14hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Archie Vernon Hardy RCAF (R/121529).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Arthur George Page RAFVR (1270918).
Navigator - Sgt John Graham Walters RAFVR (1288666).
Air Bomber - Sgt Bernard Chapman Brooker RAF (658724).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Maurice Robert Bates RAFVR (1268630).
Air Gunner - Sgt Eric McHugh Davies RAFVR (935690).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Henry James Gill RAFVR (1333854).
On 5th July 1944 F/Sgt Davies was killed on Ops when Lancaster ND846 of 35 Squadron failed to return from Ops to Villeneuve. He is buried Clichy Northern Cemetery, France.
On 11th March 1945 F/Lt Bernard Chapman Brooker DFC and Bar died when Lancaster PB669 of N.T.U. crashed near Molesworth, he is buried in Peterborough (Eastfield) Cemetery.
Halifax HR837 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd, at Radlett and was flown to 8 M.U. at Little Rissington on 9th May 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 158 Squadron at Lissett on 20th May 1943. As a result of sustaining battle damage on 28th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On 29th June 1943 it sustained freak damage on Ops to Cologne when a 1,000 lb bomb passed through the fuselage near the mid upper turret, despite the damage the crew flew the damaged aircraft back to the UK. Cat.B/FB damage was the damage assessment and a repair on site was carried out by Handley Page Ltd; it was fitted with a replacement rear fuselage section. The aircraft was returned to 158 Squadron charge on 17th January 1944. On 12th April 1944 it was transferred to 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit at Lindholme. On 12th July 1944 it sustained Cat.Ac/FA damage at Lindholme in a collision with Halifax JD307, a repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 1656 H.C.U. on 1st August 1944. On 1st January 1945 the aircraft was flown to 48 M.U. at Hawarden for disposal and was struck off charge days later on 11th January 1945.