Wellington HZ470 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 this 429 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf but the tail of the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak. The crew were able to make a safe to England and are believed to have landed at base of East Moor in the early hours of 12th June 1943. Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge.
Pilot - Sgt E A Eames RAFVR (1380201).
Navigator - P/O Eric Francis Lapham RAFVR (130258).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Hugh Victor Holmes RAFVR (656099).
Wireless Operator - Sgt W H Wright RAFVR (1383566).
Air Gunner - F/O Douglas Stewart Milne RCAF (J/13068).
Eric Lapham received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 11th September 1942 and was promoted to F/O (War subs) on 11th March 1943 and later to F/Lt on 11th September 1944 while a PoW. After the war he stayed in the RAF. He was awarded the MBE on 8th June 1968 in the Queen's Birthday Honours and finally retired as S/Ldr on 12th September 1970.
On the night of 21st / 22nd June 1943 this crew were flying Wellington HZ520 on Ops to Krefeld but the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. F/Sgt Eames, F/O Lapham and Sgt Wright escaped with their lives but were made PoWs while F/Sgt Holmes and F/O Milne were killed and who are buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery.