Wellington JA111 damaged on Ops, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th July 1943 this 429 Squadron aircraft was to be used on an operational flight to bomb Cologne. The aircraft took off from East Moor at 23.05hrs and bombed the target area but was attacked and slightly damaged by fighters. The damage was confined to the astrodome. The crew made a safe return to base and landed at East Moor at 04.29hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Fayette Williams Brown George Hingston RCAF (R/120004), of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Navigator - Sgt Thor Bjorgvin Fjeldsted RCAF (R/134651), of Argborg, Manitoba, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt John Campbell Lochhead RAFVR (1361506), of Paisey, Renfrewshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Arthur Impey RAFVR (1271666).
Air Gunner - Sgt R Goatham RCAF (R/136348).
Fayette Hingston was born on 6th May 1918 to Harold Ramsay and Elizabeth Leighton Hingston, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. He attended an Arts course at the McGill University and after graduating with a B.A. he worked for the Aluminium Company of Canada before enlisting into the RCAF in September 1941. He received his commission in November 1943. P/O Hingston was killed in action on 4th December 1943 flying Halifax JD361 of 429 Squadron when it was shot down on Ops to Leipzig. It crashed at Wittenmoor, near Stendal. He was twenty five years old and is buried in Berlin War Cemetery. Sgt Williams and F/Sgt Lochhead were with him on this night and their bodies were never recovered. Their names are inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial. F/O Brown was also on the aircraft and he became a PoW.
Thor Fjeldsted later received a commission and was awarded the DFC for service with 429 Squadron, the citation reads.."This officer has taken part in a large number
of sorties, including attacks on Berlin, Hanover, Mannheim and many other well-defended targets. He has invariably displayed the highest standard of determination and devotion to duty, and his navigational ability has been a prominent factor in the successes obtained. He has proved himself to be a most valuable member of aircraft crew."
Ronald Impey received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 8th September 1943 (158799), he was promoted to F/O on 8th March 1944 and F/Lt on 8th September 1945. Postwar he remained in the RAF at least until 1950 when he transferred to the Reserve.
Wellington JA111 was built by Vickers at Blackpool and was taken on charge by 429 Squadron on 22nd June 1943. It was damaged by flak on 25th June 1943 and then by enemy fighters on 4th July 1943, Cat.Ac/FB damage was probably the most serious any damage assessment was and a repair would have been carried out each time. Neither incident is recorded on it's AM Form 78. It was later transferred to 16 O.T.U. on 15th August 1943 and then 11 O.T.U. on 20th December 1943. It remained at 11 O.T.U. until mid-July 1945 when it passed to 12 MU. It then remained in store until being struck off charge on 11th March 1948.