Halifax JB834 damaged by flak, returned to Pockington airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from base of Pocklington at 23.12hrs. During the course of the night the aircraft received minor flak damage to the fuselage but this did not prevent the crew bringing the aircraft safely back to the UK and landing at Pocklington at 03.59hrs.
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 Thomas Arthur Hicks RAFVR (1451908).
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).
On 24th / 25th June 1943 all of the above 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.