Halifax HR952 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Snaith airfield.

On the night of 23rd / 24th September 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 19.06hrs for an operational flight to bomb Mannheim. Before reaching the target the aircraft was attacked by an enemy aircraft and received damage to the rear turret and the starboard outer engine. The crew jettisoned their bomb load and made a safe return to Snaith landing at 02.30hrs.

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 RAF (1090517).

Flight Engineer - Sgt C/G Burdsall (993633).

Air Gunner - Sgt W H T Alexander RAF (656454).

Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Ronald Albone RAFVR (1576661).

On the night of 6th / 7th September 1943 the bulk of this crew were flying Halifax HR925 on Ops to Munich whenand they made a safe return to base. The rear gunner Sgt Campbell was admitted to hospital on their return to base and appears to have been replaced by Sgt Alexander.

All of the above 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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