Halifax JB848 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the night of 26th / 27th March 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were flying an operational flight to Duisburg when the aircraft received minor flak damage to the starboard outer engine. The crew were able to bring the aircraft back to base of Pocklington and land safely at 01.01hrs. The aircraft crashed at Pocklington two days later with the same crew as listed below all being killed.
Pilot - WO2 William Phelps Comrie RCAF (R/95452).
Flight Engineer? - Sgt William J McGrath RAFVR (1365664).
Navigator - F/O Douglas William Francis Harper RAFVR (127313).
Navigator - F/O William Hugh Jenkins RAFVR (129161).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank William Dorrington RAFVR (1330802).
Air Gunner - Sgt John King RAFVR (1609738).
Air Gunner - Sgt Myles Christian Campbell Squiers RAFVR (1478651).
This photograph shows part of the crew listed above, shown (believed to be left to right) are, Myles Squiers, Douglas Harper, William Comrie, Frank Dorrington and William Jenkins. A very well written account of this incident is recorded on "http://102ceylonsquadron.co.uk/memWilliamComrie.html" and while I have not drawn upon it this account does add a lot of additional background information.
Halifax JB848 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 5th March 1943. As a result of sustaining in flak damage on 27th March 1943 and then on 28th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment each time and it was repaired on site very quickly each time. On 29th March 1943 it crashed at Pocklington immediately after take off for an operational flight to bomb Berlin. Cat.E2 Burnt damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 8th April 1943 having flown just over 28 hours total flying time.