Halifax JB858 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.
On the night of 19th / 29th June 1943 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb le Creusot. The aircraft sustained minor flak damage and this not not prevent the crew making a safe return to base, landing at Leeming in the early hours. The aircraft was repaired and continued to be used by 408 Squadron until 25th June 1943 when it was lost on Ops with most of this crew flying it.
Pilot - Sgt Bruce Ryerson Milligan RCAF (R/123385).
Navigator - F/O Frederick Campbell Culbert RCAF (J/13839).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt James Boustead Dallyn RCAF (R/82994).
Wireless Operator - Sgt David Aiken RCAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt John Douglas Bruce Hunter RCAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt George Nelson Acton RCAF (R/115653).
Flight Engineer - P/O Robert Banks Wright RAFVR (52814).
On the night of 25th / 26th June 1943 Milligan, Wright, Culbert, Aiken, Hunter and Acton were flying Halifax JB858 on Ops to Gelsenkirchen when the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter over Germany. Wright probably baled out and he saw out the war as a PoW. All the others in the aircraft were killed and their graves are now in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
P/O James Dallyn was not with this crew on 25th / 26th June 1943 but was still flying with 408 Squadron (probably on a second tour) on 23rd May 1944 and flying in Lancaster LL723 when the aircraft crashed in Germany. He too is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.