Wellington HZ269 damaged by flak, returned to Leconfield.
On the night of 28th / 29th March 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron aircraft were tasked with Ops to St.Nazaire and left Leconfield at 18.43hrs. The crew dropped their bombs from 14,500 feet at 22.09hrs over the target area but the rear turret was damaged by flak with the perspex found broken. The crew landed safely at base at 02.12hrs.
Pilot - F/O John Chalmers Morton RAFVR (106227).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Ronald Alfred Benge RAFVR (1391221).
Navigator - Sgt Edward Charles Neville RAFVR (1338625).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Alfred Miles RAFVR (1331056).
Air Gunner - Sgt George Edwin Harmes RAFVR (1547702).
Edward Miles received a commission on 14th June 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(148404) and was promoted to F/O on 14th December 1943 and F/Lt on 14th June 1945. Post war he remained in the RAF until relinquishing his commission on 26th September 1964.
Edward Neville received a commission on 13th August 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(155931) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 13th February 1944 and F/Lt on 13th August 1945. He almost certainly flew with 644 Squadron just after the end of the War.
John Morton received a commission on 6th September 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 6th September 1942. The Acting F/Lt Morton was awarded the DFC for service with 466 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th August 1943 and rose to F/Lt (war subs) on 6th September 1943.
Ronald Benge received a commission on 24th April 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency)(145847).
He was promoted to F/O on probation on 24th October 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 24th April 1945. He probably died in St.Albans, Hertfordshire in 2006.
Wellington HE269 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate and was awaiting collection in January 1943. It was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Leconfield on 23rd February 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 29th March 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 30th May 1943 it failed return from Ops to Wuppertal. It's five man crew became PoWs. Cat.E(m) damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 1st June 1943 having clocked up just over 53 hours total flying time.
Sgt George Harmes was reported as missing on 17th May 1943 on a mine laying flight in Wellington HE386, no trace was ever found of the aircraft or its crew. He was twenty one years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Morton, Benge, Miles and Neville were all posted out of 466 Squadron in September 1943 almost certainly to undertake conversion training to fly the Halifax type as 466 Squadron converted around this period but they were not to return to 466 Squadron.