On the night of 29th / 30th May 1943 this 426 Squadron aircraft took off from Dishforth airfield at 22.27hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Wuppertal. Before they reached the
target area this aircraft was flying at 16,000ft and was struck by flak between Dusseldorf and Cologne. Four minutes later the crew released their bomb load (one 4,000lb
bomb) onto PFF target markers over Wuppertal. Despite the damage the crew were able to make a safe return to Yorkshire and land safely at base of Dishforth at 04.18hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Charles Anthony Griffiths RCAF (R/123921).
Navigator - Sgt Peter Allwell RAFVR (1343996).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt George Sparks RCAF.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Harry Filbey RAFVR (916413).
Air Gunner - Sgt J S Morton.
On the night of 2nd / 3rd January 1944 P/O Griffiths (aged 21), F/Sgt Allwell (aged 22), P/O Filbey and P/O Sparks were flying
in Lancaster DS760 when the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Berlin. The events of what happened were not yet known when this
webpage was created. P/O Sparks and one other survived to became PoW's but everyone else on board were assumed to have been killed.
They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Ronald Filbey had received a commission to P/O on probation (emergency) (159006) on 10th October 1943.
Wellington HZ481 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd. at Squires Gate and was flown to 12 M.U. at Kirkbridge as new on 14th May 1943. On 26th May 1943 the aircraft was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dishforth and sustained minor Cat.A/FB battle damage on 30th May 1943. The aircraft was repaired on site and, on 12th June 1943, it was transferred to 432 Squadron at Skipton on Swale. On 4th July 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Cologne. Cat.E(m) damage was the damage assessment recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge on 1st August 1943 having clocked up just 36 hours total flying time from new.
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