Halifax JB852 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
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 22.54hrs. They bombed PFF markers from 16,000 feet but the aircraft was slightly damaged by flak whilst over the target area. The crew were able to make a safe return to Elvington and land there at 03.56hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Augustine Brannigan RAFVR (1126352).
Flight Engineer - Sgt James William Baxter RAFVR (1020127).
Navigator - Sgt Arthur William Beard RAFVR (1159543).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Peter Rowland Humphries RAFVR (1318660).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Francis Catley RAFVR (1330807).
Air Gunner - Sgt Alexander George Templeton RAFVR (1559351).
Air Gunner - Sgt William Palmer RAFVR (1576800).
Augustine Brannigan had trained at 1652 HCU and already been involved in one flying accident when, on 31st October 1942 he was a pilot of Halifax R9433 undertaking a training flight when it crashed near Welburn, between York and Malton and he sustained injuries. He recovered from these injuries and completed his training to be posted to 77 Squadron in Spring 1943. On 11th May 1943 he was the pilot of Halifax BB380 that crashed on take off from Elvington for a training flight which injured one of his crew but following this incident he was soon back in the air and flying operationally. Two days before this flak incident detailed above he was flying with the same crew as listed in Halifax JB851 when the aircraft was damaged by flak and he was able to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire.
Sgt Baxter was replaced by an Australian flight engineer and the crew then resumed operational flying. On 28th August 1943 they were flying Halifax JD371 on Ops to Nuremburg when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed in Belgium with five of his then crew killed, three were able to evade capture and return to the UK. P/O Brannigan (aged 29), F/Sgt Humphries (aged 22), Templeton (aged 22) were killed and are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.
I thank Augustine Brannigan's nephew for contacting me in April 2011 and to Ade Harris for the photograph of his gravestone. A memorial service took place on 28th August 2013 with members of his family in attendance and the organisers also run the superb "http://www.rememberjd371.be" website who kindly credit me with putting the familay and the Belgians in contact.
Arthur Beard was awarded the DFM, he survived and evaded capture to return to the UK. He died in 1991.
William Catley also survived and evaded capture to return to the UK. He died in 2001.
William Palmer also survived and evaded capture to return to the UK. He was present when the memorial was dedicated to those who died in the crash of Halifax JD371.
Sgt Baxter was killed on 29th June 1943 while flying with the crew listed above in Halifax JB970, the aircraft was hit by flak in the target area which killed him instantly and injured Sgt Catley. Sgt Baxter was twenty three years old and is buried in Cuxwold Churchyard, Lincolnshire. Brannigan landed at Honington airfield on return.
Halifax JB852 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 10th March 1943.
It sustained flak damage on 4th April 1943 that saw a damage assessment of Cat.A/FB which was repaired on site. The aircraft received further battle damage on 27th April 1943 and again Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 77 Squadron on 7th May 1943. On 28th May 1943 it received battle damage that saw Cat.A/FB damage be the damage assessment. It was again repaired on site and returned to 77 Squadron. On 12th June 1943 it again received battle damage that saw Cat.A/FB damage be the damage assessment. On 22nd June 1943 it failed to return from an operational flight to bomb Krefeld. Cat.E(m) damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 30th June 1943 having flown a total of 110 hours flying time.