Halifax JB852 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington airfield to undertake an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf and took off at 22.30hrs. While over Germany the aircraft was damaged by flak in the bomb bay and in one of the wings and on the return flight a glycol leak in both inner engines effected the performance. They made a safe landing at Elvington at around 04.20hrs.
Pilot - Acting F/Lt John Leslie Wilson RAAF (412788).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J F Hopkins RAFVR (1212037).
Navigator - Sgt J J Leicester RAFVR (1434391).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Robert Alfred Sims RAFVR (1316116).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Joseph Wilson RAFVR (1029925).
Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Alexander Baxter RAFVR (1390065).
Air Gunner - Sgt J Cocks.
Second Pilot - Name unknown.
On 31st August / 1st September 1943 the first six named above were flying in 77 Squadron Halifax JD413 on Ops to Berlin when the aircraft failed to return. F/Lt Wilson, Sims, Barlow and Baxter were killed and are buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery while Hopkins and Leicester survived and became PoWs. Sgt Edward Joseph Wilson died of his injuries on 4th September 1943 and is buried at Hotton War Cemetery.
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.