On the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Elvington airfield at 22.42hrs. They bombed PFF markers from 18,000 feet but the aircraft was damaged by flak. The crew were able to make a safe return to Elvington and land at 03.20hrs.
Pilot - Sgt S Richardson (probably Sgt Selwyn Richardson RAFVR (1230989)).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J S Stephens.
Navigator - Sgt J Swallow.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt D McF Boyd.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Taylor RAFVR (1204582).
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Arthur Foster RCAF (R/60335).
Air Gunner - Sgt Rolph Henry King RCAF (R/109695).
The pilot was probably Selwyn Richardson RAFVR (1230989), he was awarded the DFM for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 12th November 1943.
He was granted a commission on 6th September 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (158546) and later rose to F/O on 6th March 1944 and F/Lt on 6th September 1945. He flew a second Tour with 692 Squadron and for this he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944.
Leslie Foster was later granted a commission and was posted to 405 Squadron PFF during March 1944. He was killed flying with them on 28th April 1944 while flying in Lancaster JA976 on Ops to Montzen. He was twenty six years old and is buried in Webbekom Churchyard, Belgium.
Harry Taylor flew his first tour with 77 Squadron between January and September 1943, he later flew a second tour with 102 Squadron which he completed in October 1944. He was granted a commission on 19th August 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (157976) rising to F/O on 19th February 1944 and F/Lt on 19th August 1945. He was award the DFC for his service, Gazetted on 16th February 1945 and the recommendation reads.."Flight Lieutenant Taylor has completed one tour of operations in Bomber Command and has to date flown on another nine sorties during his second tour. These trips have included long anti-submarine patrols, attacks on German targets such as Berlin, Essen, Cologne, Hamburg and Dusseldorf and also objectives in occupied territory. Flight Lieutenant Taylor has at all times shown himself most keen to proceed on operations; he is ready to fly with any crew at any time. His courage, efficiency and enthusiasm have reflected in the high standard of the Section of which he is leader." He remained in the RAF until 16th May 1957, his medal set sold at auction in 1999.
Rolph King was born on 5th April 1920 to George and Elizabeth King, of Windsor, Ontario. On the night of 21st / 22nd June 1943 Sgt King was flying Ops to Krefeld in Halifax JD205 when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter, all at the front of the aircraft baled out and survived to become PoW's but Sgt King and the other air gunner were killed. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and was promoted to Warrant Officer after his death.
Halifax JB839 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4c by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was flown to 8 M.U. at Little Rissington on 3rd March 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 23rd April 1943. As a result of sustaining minor battle damage on 28th May 1943 Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 6th September 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Mannheim that saw it's eight man crew killed. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and the aircraft was struck off charge on 9th September 1943 having clocked up a total of just over 230 flying hours from new.
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