Halifax HR839 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Snaith airfield at 23.16hrs. The aircraft was slightly damaged over the target by flak but the crew released their load on the PFF markers and returned to Snaith making a safe landing at 04.02hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Desmond Ewart Abel Lander RAFVR (1333728).
Navigator - Sgt Norman Sidney Francis Palmer RAFVR (1339497).
Air Bomber - Sgt George Frederick Collier RAFVR (1391510).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert James Wickersham RAFVR (1332147).
Flight Engineer - Sgt David Peter McDonald Thomson RAF (546342).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ernest Kenwright RAFVR (1020778).
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald Arthur Alfred Swain RAF (647531).
Desmond Lander received a commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 17th August 1943 (157305) and rose to F/O on 17th February 1944 and F/Lt on 17th August 1945.
He was awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1945 (with effect of "25th December 1943" but probably more like 25th November 1943 - the day before he was taken PoW). Postwar he remained in the RAFVR until reliquishing his commission on 15th October 1959.
Norman Palmer received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 20th September 1943 (159931) and rose to F/O on 20th March 1944 and F/Lt on 20th September 1945. He was also awarded the DFC for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th April 1945 (with effect of 25th November 1943). On 1st January 1983 he was granted a CBE work service as Assistant Secretary, Department of the Environment.
All of the above were posted to 35 Squadron on 19th June 1943. On 26th November 1943 all except Sgt Kenwright were flying in Halifax LW326 on Ops to Frankfurt when the aircraft crashed in Belgium. Wickersham (aged 22) and Swain (aged 24) died and both are buried in Hotton War Cemetery. Lander, Palmer, Collier and Thomson were made PoW's.
Ernest Kenwright was awarded the DFM for service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He was also awarded the DFC while in the rank of Warrant Officer for further service with 35 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th September 1945.
Halifax HR839 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge as new by 51 Squadron at Snaith on 14th May 1943. As a result of sustaining minor battle damage on 28th May 1943 the damage assessment was Cat.A/FB and a repair on site was carried out. On 29th June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from ops to Cologne, Cat.E(m) damage was the assessment on the paperwork and the aircraft was struck off charge on 1st July 1943 having clocked up a total of 66 flying hours from new.