Halifax JB799 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.

On the night of 29th / 30th March 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft took off from Pocklington airfield at 21.56hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. During the course of the night the aircraft received minor flak damage to the nose of the aircraft but no injuries resulted. Despite the damage the crew were able to bring the aircraft safely back to base and landed at Pocklington airfield at 04.47hrs. The squadron records list the aircraft as being "Halifax JB779" but this cannot be correct as JB779 did not exist. The pilot had flown Halifax JB799 the previous day so I assume this was the identity.

Pilot - Sgt Ronald Reginald Hale RAFVR (1387084).

Navigator - Sgt Alexander Edward Muir RAFVR (1479869).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Alfred Hobbis RAFVR (1204788).

Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Louis Stanley Lowings RAFVR (1322699).

Air Gunner - Sgt Raoul Quevillon RCAF (R/69003).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Alec Ernest John Gibbs RAFVR (1200710).

Bomb Aimer - P/O Ernest Douglas Wilcock RAFVR (128624).

Halifax JB799 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection on 26th February 1943. The following day it as flown to 45 M.U. at Kinloss. On 6th March 1943 it was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 30th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage resulted which saw it repaired on site and returned to 102 Squadron use. On 13th May 1943 it was lost on Ops to Duisburg when it crashed into the North Sea with the loss of it's crew. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 16th May 1943 having clocked up a total of 113 flying hours.
Sgt Jack Lowings was killed on 28th May 1943 when 102 Squadron Halifax JD149 was shot down on Ops to Essen with the loss of the whole of his then crew. He is buried in Wieringen General Cemetery, The Netherlands.

On the night of 12th / 13th June 1943 Hale, Muir, Hobbis, Quevillon, Gibbs and Wilcock were flying together in 102 Squadron Halifax JB868 when the aircraft crashed in the North Sea. Only Sgt Gibbs has a known grave (at Sage War Cemetery) and the others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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