Halifax JB853 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th April 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen and took from Elvington at 19.55hrs.
As they were lining up the PFF markers in the bomb site the aircraft was hit by flak while flying at 19.000ft but they were able to release their bombload over the target. They were able to make a safe return to base and landed at Elvington at 00.12hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Harold Evans Vivian Gawler RAFVR (1315846).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Arthur Cotterill RAFVR (936161).
Navigator - Sgt William Percy Homersham RAFVR (1387002).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Stanley Charles Langston RAFVR (1333518).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Arthur Burgess RAFVR (1270390).
Air Gunner - Sgt Peter William Kitchen RAFVR (1387038).
Air Gunner - Sgt T Todd RAFVR (1138750).
Second Pilot - Sgt Robert Richardson Mascall RAFVR (1043276).
Harold Gawler attended Colston's School, Bristol and had just left school when he joined the RAF in 1939, the photograph shown above was found in one of their school magzines now archived on the internet. He received a commission on 26th August 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (156937).
On 1st September 1943 the first seven named above were flying Ops to Berlin in Halifax JB851 when the aircraft was shot down over the target, the rear gunner, Sgt Todd, survived and became a PoW but the remaining members of the crew were sadly all killed and all are buried in Berlin War Cemetery. Sgt Cotterill was 26 years old, Sgt Burgess was 31 years old but the rest were either 20 or 21 years old.
Sgt Mascall was almost certainly coming towards the end of his Heavy Conversion Unit training and was flying on this operational flight with 77 Squadron to gain operational flying experience and what was known as a "Dickie" pilot. He was later posted to 51 Squadron and on the night of 23rd / 24th May 1944 while flying Halifax HR844 on Ops to Dortmund. The aircraft failed to return to base and he and all his then crew became PoW's.
Halifax JB853 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 12th March 1943. The aircraft was slightly damaged by flak on 4th April 1943 that saw Cat.A/FB damage be the damage assessment. A repair on site followed and it resumed use by 77 Squadron. On 14th September 1943 it was transferred to 1658 H.C.U. at Riccall. On 14th May 1944 it was slightly damaged in a flying accident that saw Cat.A(c)/FA damage be the assessment and a repair on site made. The aircraft continued to serve with 1658 H.C.U. until 27th September 1944 when it was transferred to 1669 H.C.U. at Langar. On 20th February 1945 it was flown to Doncaster (Possibly Pilkington Bros. Ltd.) for a major repair but was struck off charge there on 6th March 1945.