Halifax HR869 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
On 27th July 1943 this aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 22.30hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Hamburg.
The crew bombed the target at 01.08hrs from 19,000ft and just after releasing their bomb load the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak.
The crew were able to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire and they landed safely at Snaith airfield in the early hours of 28th July 1943 at 04.02hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Thomas Reginald Dobson RAFVR (106875), of Selby, North Yorkshire.
Navigator - Sgt Leslie Frank Merricks RAFVR (1333995).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Alexander Aloyisius McGregor RAF (617161), of Glasgow.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Herbert Francis Maughan RCAF (R/106632), of Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Donald William Kemp RAFVR (1162793), of Werrington, Staffordshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Donald John Cameron RCAF (R/99776), of London, Ontario, Canada.
Air Gunner - Acting F/Lt Thomas George William Bayfield RAF (49119).
Thomas Dobson received his commission on 13th September 1941. I assume he had flown operationally before arriving at 51 Squadron but have yet to learn with whom.
Sgt Maughan had previously served with 158 Squadron and arrived at 51 Squadron on 12th February 1943.
The first six named above were were killed on 28th August 1943 while still serving with 51 Squadron, they were flying the same aircraft, Halifax HR869,
on Ops to Nuremburg when the aircraft crashed in Germany and they are now buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
Thomas Bayfield received his commission on 3rd May 1942 to P/O on probation and rose to F/O six months later on 6th November 1943. For service with 51 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 12th November 1943.
He was promoted to F/Lt on 3rd May 1944 and survived the War.