Halifax JB783 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
In the early hours of 27th April 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Duisberg and took from Elvington at 00.17hrs, they bombed the target from 17,000ft and was slightly damaged by flak over the target. A fragment of the flak burst hit the second pilot in the face and his oxygen mask was shot off his face. The crew were able to make a safe return to base and landed at Elvington at 05.14hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Francis John O'Grady RAAF (411811).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Geoffrey Herbert Garrard RAFVR (1330009).
Navigator - F/O Bernard Chistopher McGrath RAFVR (120663)
Wireless Operator - Sgt Wilfred Reginald Beadsmoore RAFVR (1380112)
Air Gunner - Sgt William Alfred Manning RAFVR (1300611).
Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Basil Anderson RAFVR (955870).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J Myers.
Second Pilot - Sgt J L Povey (probably Sgt John Leslie Povey RAFVR (1336480)).
Francis O'Grady was born on 26th March 1920 in Sydney New South Wales, Australia and enlisted into the RAAF there.
Sgt Povey was undertaking training at Rufforth's Heavy Conversion Unit at the time of this incident and was flying on this night with 77 Squadron to gain operational experience. Hugh Halliday's extensive Air Forces awards research has located a recommendation for a French Croix de Guerre to a Warrant Officer J L Povey but it is not known if he was actually awarded the Croix de Guerre. He received a commission on 26th March 1944 (182970) and was awarded the DFC for service with 624 Squadron, Gazetted on 10th October 1944. He remained in the RAFVR until reliquishing his commission on 30th July 1957.
The first six named on the list above were flying in Halifax JD152 on 28th May 1943 when it failed to return and was found to have crashed
at Lavesum, near Haltein, Germany. All were killed and are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Halifax JB783 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge as new by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 16th February 1943. As a result of battle damage on 27th April 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was swiftly repaired on site. On 1st May 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Essen that saw two of the crew killed and five being made PoW. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on the same date having clocked up a total of 102 hours total flying from new.