Halifax JB834 damaged by flak, returned to Pockington airfield?
On the night of 25th / 26th May 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf and took off from base of Pocklington at 23.44hrs. The target area was obscured by cloud and while making a second pass the aircraft received flak damage. Despite the damage the crew were able to bring the aircraft safely back to the UK and landed at 04.25hrs. The landing appears to have been made at Pocklington as the squadron records do not state that it wasn't, however thick fog appears to have effected the returning aircraft on this night and many other squadrons had some of their aircraft diverted to land elsewhere because of thick fog over Yorkshire.
Pilot - Sgt James Arthur Marsden RAFVR (1218435).
Navigator - F/O James Edgar Lewis RAFVR (129357).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Robin Harold Barnes RAFVR (1311751).
Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Muldoon RAFVR (1575367).
Air Gunner - Sgt Phillip Albert George Warwick RAFVR (1293070).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Stephen Robinson Ablett RAFVR (1461188).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Jack Austin Perkins RAFVR (130511).
Joseph Muldoon was later awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 7th December 1943.
On 24th / 25th June 1943 all of the above apart from Sgt Muldoon were flying this same Halifax JB834 on Ops to Wuppertal when the aircraft was lost without trace. Six are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while Sgt Warwick is now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Halifax JB834 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered to 18 M.U. at Dumfries on 28th February 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 4th May 1943. As a result of sustained flak damage on 26th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage would have been the damage assessment and a repair was swiftly made on site. On 28th May 1943 it was again slightly damaged by flak with Cat.A/FB damage being the damage assessment. On 25th June 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Wupertal with most of the above named. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge much later on 6th September 1943 having a total of 70.35 hours total flying time recorded to it.