On the night of 25th / 26th November 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 23.58hrs for an operational flight to bomb Frankfurt. The crew were over the target area at 02.48hrs and released their bomb load from 18,000 feet, while over the target the aircraft received minor flak damage. They were able to fly the aircraft back to base of Snaith airfield and land safely at 06.40hrs.
Pilot - F/O John Gordon Rees RAAF (265327).
Navigator - P/O Douglas Rubery RAFVR (144323).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Victor Sidney Scott RAFVR (151233).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt D M C Keith RAFVR (1552273).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alan James Henshaw RAFVR (1604642).
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Edwin Griffin Parsons RAFVR (1891427).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Walter John Tostevin RAFVR (1873602).
Leslie Tostevin received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 10th May 1944 rising to F/O six months later and to F/Lt on 10th May 1946.
Alan Henshaw was awarded the Croix de Guerre (Avec Palme) in June 1947.
Douglas Rubert received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 17th May 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He survived the War having risen to F/Lt in May 1945.
Victor Scott received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 19th February 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 12th December 1944.
Thomas Parsons received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 21st August 1944 rising to F/O six months later.
John Rees enlisted for RAAF service in April 1940 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Ausralia but initially served as a guard in Australia. He re-mustered to aircrew and after training was awarded his Pilots' Wings on 29th April 1942. For service with 51 Squadron he was awarded a DFC, Gazetted on 22nd September 1944, and also the DFC (USA), Gazetted on 15th May 1945 also for service with 51 Squadron. He later served with and became the commanding officer of 454 Squadron.