On the night of 12th / 13th March 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington to undertake an operational flight bomb Essen. The aircraft sustained damaged by flak over Germany but were able to make a safe landing at Elvington at around midnight. This crew appear to have been made up mainly of RCAF airmen.
Pilot - Sgt Anthony Symmons RAFVR (1295362).
Flight Engineer - Sgt K E Johnston (Probably Sgt Kenneth Ewart Johnston RCAF (C/18844)).
Navigator - Sgt Joseph Leroy Fulsher RCAF.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J L Whitney (Probably John Lawrence Whitney RCAF).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Roy Edward Simonson RCAF (R/102281).
Air Gunner - Sgt W A Fleming.
Air Gunner - Sgt Fred Calder MacQueen RCAF (R/88218).
Halifax JB803 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 25th February 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 13th March 1943 minor Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment. A repair on site commenced on 15th March 1943 and it was returned to 77 Squadron on 27th March 1943. On 1st May 1943 it crashed in Holland while on an operational flight to bomb Essen killing it's then crew, Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork. The aircraft was struck off charge on that date.
Joseph Fulsher was later awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 14th September 1943. He had been posted to 23 OTU on 31st July 1943.
Roy Simonson then he was later killed instructing with 22 O.T.U. when Wellington HZ715 crashed into Red Pike, Buttermere in the English Lake District on 16th June 1944. Roy was serving with 77 Squadron during March 1943.
Anthony Symmons was awarded the DFM for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th July 1943. He received a commission on 3rd June 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (148701) and was promoted to F/O on 3rd December 1943 and to F/Lt on 3rd June 1945. He remained in the RAF until May 1957.
Kenneth Johnston then he had initially enlisted for RCAF for ground duties as a mechanic but re-mustered to aircrew when the need for flying flight engineers for larger Bomber Command aircraft came up. Hugh Halliday's superb RCAF awards research states that he completed a Tour with an unknown squadron (and I would strongly suspect that this was with 77 Squadron). After service with 77 Squadron he was posted to 1659 HCU on 31st July 1943.
he later undertook a second tour with 429 Squadron in 1944 and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He died in 1988.
John Whitney completed a Tour with 77 Squadron and was posted to 23 OTU on 31st July 1943. he later flew a second with 426 Squadron. After receiving a commission he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 25th September 1945. He returned home to Canada where he died in December 2007.
Fred MacQueen was seriously injuried on 17th December 1943 while instructing at 23 OTU. I have not yet located the incident in which these injuries were caused by. He died the following day on 18th December 1943 and is buried in Pershore Cemetery,
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