On the night of 6th / 7th September 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 19.18hrs for an operational flight to bomb Munich. During the flight the aircraft was attacked and badly damaged by an enemy aircraft which wounded the rear gunner Sgt Campbell. P/O Carder took evasive action but in doing so the ailerons locked to one side which resulted in the aircraft loosing height and going in circles. The crew were very lucky, Carder managed to wrench the aileron control level and they managed to make a safe return to Snaith landing at 04.30hrs.
Pilot - P/O Ronald Eric Carder RAFVR (156074).
Navigator - Sgt Elmer Seddon Storey RAFVR (1511664)
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Charles Alastair King RAFVR (1560457).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Cyril Kettley RAFVR (1090517).
Flight Engineer - Sgt G Burdsall RAF (993633).
Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Ronald Albone RAFVR (1576661)
Air Gunner - Sgt T A Campbell RAFVR (1550270). Injured.
This crew received a new rear gunner and continued with their tour with 51 Squadron. They were flying together on the night of 19th / 20th February 1944 in Halifax LW481 on Ops to Leipzig with 51 Squadron when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. They were joined by an Australian second pilot for operational experience. Sgt Albone and the second pilot were killed while the others survived but became PoWs. Sgt Arthur Albone is buried in Berlin War Cemetery, he was twenty one years old.
Ronald Calder received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 25th August 1943 and rose to F/O on 25th February 1944 and F/Lt on 25th August 1945.
Elmer Storey received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 11th September 1943 and rose to F/O on 11th March 1944 and F/Lt on 11th September 1945.
Charles King received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 5th December 1943 and rose to F/O on 5th June 1944 and F/Lt on 5th December 1945.
Cyril Kettley received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th September 1943 and rose to F/O on 30th March 1944 and F/Lt on 30th September 1945.
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