Halifax JB856 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 30th April / 1st May 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Essen. They took off from Elvington at 23.58hrs and bombed the target area on the PFF markers but the aircraft's starboard outer engine was hit by flak over "Borken". The pilot was able to make a safe landing at base at 05.29hrs on three engines.
Pilot - Sgt Ronald John Daffey RAFVR (1382893).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J Henderson. (Probably Sgt Jack Henderson RAFVR (1210879)).
Navigator - F/O James Naylor RAFVR (128490).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Thomas Cameron Treadwell RAFVR (127110).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt David Aubrey Clarke RCAF (R/101355).
Air Gunner - Sgt F A Sparks (probably Sgt Frank Alfred Sparks RAFVR (1395366)).
Air Gunner - P/O Donald Shirley Smart RCAF (J/16325).
Hugh Halliday's superb RCAF awards research yields much more information about his service and a brief extract of which states that he was back in Canada by the end of 1943 where he served until November 1946. His DFC was not presented to him until 12th December 1944. He died in July 1999 in Ottawa
Halifax JB856 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge as new by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 16th March 1943. As a result of battle damage sustained on 1st May 1943 and on 28th May 1943 Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. The aircraft was damaged by enemy action on 4th July 1943 on Ops to Cologne that saw one member of the crew killed and another seriously injured. A landing was made at Benson. Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site, with it returned to 77 Squadron charge on 27th August 1943. On 23rd October 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Kassel that saw three killed and four being made PoW. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 23rd October 1943 having clocked up exactly 200 hours flying time from new.
Ronald Daffey was awarded the DFM for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th September 1943, the citation reads.. "One night in August 1943, this airman piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin. On the outward journey, engine trouble developed but Flight Sergeant Daffey continued his flight. When nearing the target the engine became useless. In spite of this, Flight Sergeant Daffey persisted in his task, successfully bombed the target and obtained an excellent photograph, afterwards flying the aircraft back to an airfield in this country. His skill and determination in the face of adverse circumstances were worthy of great praise." He received a commission on 27th September 1943 (159488) to the rank of P/O on probation and rose to F/O (war subs) on 27th March 1944. As Acting F/Lt he was awarded the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 21st September 1945. He remained in the RAF until relinquishing his commission on 14th December 1951.
James Naylor received a commission on 14th August 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 14th February 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th January 1944. He was later promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 14th August 1944 and was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th October 1945. He finally reliquished his commission in the RAFVR on 31st August 1958.
Thomas Treadwell received a commission on 29th August 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 28th February 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 18th January 1944 and was promoted to F/Lt on 29th August 1944. He too was awarded the Bar to the DFC for service with 10 Squadron Gazetted on 21st September 1945.
Donald Smart was born in Ottawa in January 1920 and enlisted into the RCAF there in May 1940. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th October 1943. The citation for his DFc reads.."This officer has completed one successful tour of operational duty and part of a second since he joined his present squadron. He has completed a large number of sorties both in the Mediterranean theatre of war and from this country and in the face of intense enemy action has frequently proved his tenacity of purpose, courage and devotion to duty."
Sgt Clarke was made a POW as the result of Halifax JD205 being shot down by a night fighter on Ops to Krefeld on 21st/22nd June 1943. While stationed in England he had married with his wife living in Ruislip, Middlesex.
Jack Henderson was awarded the DFM for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 21st January 1944
If the Sgt Sparks listed in the 77 Squadron crew at the top of this page was Sgt Frank Sparks then he received a commission on 16th March 1945. He too was later posted to 10 Squadron and received the DFC for service with them, Gazetted on 25th September 1945.