Halifax JB844 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th May 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were flying an operational flight to Essen and took off from Pocklington airfield at 22.53hrs. During the course of the night the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak bursts and received holes to the wings, fuselage and bomb doors. The damage did not prevent the crew from making a safe return to England and they landed safely at Pocklington at 03.15hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur Carey RNZAF (NZ 41506).
Navigator - P/O P A Morris.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt A E Jones.
Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon Babbage RAFVR (1613415).
Air Gunner - Sgt Wilf Bell.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Anthony Horace Allmond RAF (542582).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J M Clements.
Halifax JB844 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4/c by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge as new by 78 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 20th March 1943. Two days later it was transferred to 102 Squadron at Pocklington. As a result of sustaining flak damage on 5th May 1943 and then on 28th May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment each time and it was repaired on site each time. On 26th June 1943 it sustained Cat.Ac/FB damage when it was damaged by flak or by falling incendiary bombs on ops to Gelsenkirchen. The crew managed to return the aircraft to base and it was repaired on site by a team from Handley Page Ltd. On 14th July 1943 it was returned to 102 Squadron charge but was re-coded "DY-S". On 10th August 1943 it sustained minor Cat.A/FB damage when it collided with a parked aircraft at Pocklington after landing from Ops to Mannheim. The aircraft was repaired on site. On 24th April 1944 it was transferred to 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit at Rufforth. on 16th May 1944 it was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall. On 19th July 1944 it was force landed near Sheriff Hutton and while the crew all survived the aircraft was badly damaged. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on 26th July 1944. It had amassed some 558 hours total flying time from new.