Halifax HR936 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
On 24th July 1943 this aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 22.26hrs to
undertake an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. They bombed the target area at
01.13hrs from 19,000ft but a couple of minutes after bombing a flak burst slightly
damaged the starboard inner engine which caused an oil leak. The crew were able
to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire and they landed safely at Snaith airfield
in the early hours of 25th July 1943 at 03.50hrs.
Pilot - W/Co Alan Donald Frank DSO DFC RAFO (70227).
Navigator - F/O William James Arthur Nicholson RAFVR (127315)
Bomb Aimer - Sgt G E Lloyd RAF (1387111).
Wireless Operator - Acting F/Lt Frederick Donald Heaton DFC RAFVR (131636).
Flight Engineer - F/Lt Thomas Lister McCann RAFVR (143796).
Air Gunner - P/O Alfred Fletcher RAF (149055), of Prestwich, Lancashire.
Air Gunner - P/O Marcus Wheeler Jones RAFVR (142512).
William Nicholson received his commission on 31st July 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was later promoted to F/O on probation
(war subs) on 31st January 1943 and to F/Lt on 31st July 1944 (war subs).
Alan Frank's RAF career is well documented on "www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Frank_AD.htm". He received his commission on 29th December 1936. He flew with 150 Squadron, 460 Squadron and 10 Squadron
before posting to 51 Squadron as Commanding Officer in April 1943 until November 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 150 Squadron, Gazetted on 22nd October 1941. He was also awarded the DSO for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943.
He rose through the ranks to become Air Vice Marshal before retiring in October 1970.
William Nicholson and Sgt Lloyd survived the crash of Halifax HR747 near Eggborough, Yorkshire on 26th May 1943. On the night of 23rd / 24th August 1943
they were both flying Ops to Berlin in Halifax HR936 when the aircraft failed to return. The aircraft suffered from total control failure so everyone on board
baled out. All were eventually captured and saw out the war as PoWs. Sgt Lloyd managed to evade capture for three months before being captured but his full
identity is not yet known.
Frederick Heaton received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 18th September 1942 and rose to F/O on 18th March 1943 and F/Lt on 18th September 1944.
He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th May 1943. He was posted away from 51 Squadron to the Head Quarters of Bomber Command in
December 1943. He remained in the RAF until 13th December 1955.
Thomas McCann received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 5th April 1943 and rose to F/O on 5th October 1943 and F/Lt on 5th April 1945.
For service with 51 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 7th December 1943.
Marcus Jones received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 6th March 1943 and rose to F/O on 6th September 1943 and F/Lt on 6th March 1945.
For service with 51 Squadron he too was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 11th February 1944.
Alfred Fletcher was posting in to 51 Squadron from 10 Squadron on 6th May 1943. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 16th July 1943 and rose to F/O on 16th January 1944. He was still serving
with 51 Squadron on 21st January 1944 and flying in Halifax LV775 when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter. The aircraft crashed in Germany and he is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.