On the night of 29th / 30th March 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington at 22.03hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The aircraft was attacked by two Junkers Ju88s in the Flensburg area and sustained damage to the tail, fuselage and main spar. the crew managed to shake the attackers off and probably returned fire. With the damage sustained they jettisoned the bomb load over a flak position and made for home, landing safely at Elvington in the early hours. The damaged was repaired.
Pilot - Sgt G B Ellis (Possibly Sgt Gwilym Beynon Ellis RAFVR (657095)).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Fred Brierley RAF (537128).
Navigator - F/O Max Reginald Ashman RAFVR (120405)
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Frederick Roberts Gilbey RAFVR (1436344).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt C A Walsh.
Air Gunner - Sgt Stanley Arthur Richardson RAFVR (1231188).
Air Gunner - Sgt George William Mayo RAFVR (1211529).
George Mayo was killed on 6th September 1943 when flying Ops to Mannheim in Halifax JB970, the aircraft was attacked and badly damaged by a night fighter, three of the crew were able to bale out but Sgt Mayo and three others went down with the aircraft and were killed. He is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Stanley Richardson was still flying with 77 Squadron on 22nd October 1943 when he on board Halifax JB856 on Ops to Kassel, he and two other members of his then crew were killed while four became PoW's. He is buried in Hannover War Cemetery.
Frederick Gilbey was awarded the DFM for sercice with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943. He received his commission on 18th October 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (161687) rising to F/O on 18th February 1944 and F/Lt on 18th October 1945. He remained in the RAFVR after the war and relinquished his commission in the RAFVR on 11th January 1955.
Max Ashman was granted a commission as P/O on probation (emergency) on 19th January 1942 and was promoted to F/O on probation on 1st October 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943. He was later promoted to F/Lt on 19th January 1944 and was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 582 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th February 1945, the citation for this reads.."This officer has participated in numerous sorties against heavily defended targets in Germany and enemy-occupied territory. He has proved himself a keen and skilful navigator. His courage and fortitude in the face of all hazards, together with his consistent devotion to duty, merit high praise." He remained in the RAFVR until reliquishing his commission on 27th March 1956.
Sgt Brierley was posted to 76 Squadron on 3rd August 1943 and died on 27th September 1943 flying Ops to Hannover in Halifax DK266. The aircraft crashed in Germany and he is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. He was the son of Booth and Annie Brierley, of Lees, Oldham, Lancashire and was 32 years old.
Similiarly, if Sgt Ellis was indeed Sgt Gwilym Beynon Ellis then he too was posted to 76 Squadron. He received his commission on 13th September 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation. He rose to F/O on 13th March 1944 He was awarded the DFC for service with 76 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th June 1944, the citation reads.."One night in May 1944. Flying Officer Ellis piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Hasselt. On the outward flight the aircraft was engaged by a fighter and sustained damage before the enemy aircraft was driven off. Although one engine was useless and the port mainplane had received damage, Flying Officer Ellis went on to the target which he attacked with. his usual determination. This officer, who is now on his second tour, has displayed exceptional keenness, great skill and courage." Reference to flying his second tour with 76 Squadron lends more weight to him flying his first with 77 Squadron. He was later promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 13th September 1945.
Halifax JB781 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd, at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 21st February 1943. As a result of the damage sustained on 30th March 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment which saw a repair on site commencing on 2nd April 1943. On 16th April 1943 the repaired aircraft was returned to 77 Squadron at Elvington but was then re-coded "KN-W". It sustained Cat.Ac/FB flak damage on 21st April 1943 which again saw it repaired on site. This incident is not logged on it's AM Form 78. An error on the AM Form 78 stated it was written off as "missing" with Cat.E(m) on 6th September 1943. This is not correct. On 12th November 1943 it was damaged by flak on Ops to Cannes, with damage to the bomb bay, radio, a fuel tank and the starboard main wheel the crew landed at Hartford Bridge. The aircraft was repaired on site. The AM Form 78 then continues to list further movements. It's transfer to 1652 H.C.U. at Marston Moor is not dated but was probably after the repair following the 12th November 1943 battle damage incident. On 11th October 1944 it was transferred to 1669 H.C.U. at Langar. On 19th February 1945 it was reported as being at Doncaster, almost certainly at Pilkington Bros. Ltd. for a major repair. On 6th March 1945 it was then struck off charge during major repair.
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