Halifax JB865 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 19.48hrs. They arrived over the target area at 21.49hrs and remained there selecting a PFF marker to bomb from 18.000ft some minutes later. The aircraft was hit by flak at 22.10hrs as they were leaving the target area which resulted in some flak holes and later a loss of brake pressure. They were able to make a safe return to base and landed at Elvington at 00.44hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Francis John O'Grady RAAF (411811), of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Geoffrey Herbert Garrard RAFVR (1330009), of Eastbourne, Sussex.
Navigator - F/O Bernard Chistopher McGrath RAFVR (120663), of Urmston, Lancashire.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Cecil Clarke RAFVR (1497822), of Diggle, Dobcross, Lancashire.
Air Gunner - Sgt William Alfred Manning RAFVR (1300611), of Walton, Liverpool.
Air Gunner - Sgt Charles Basil Anderson RAFVR (955870).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Leslie Walter Westwood RAFVR (924327).
Second Pilot - Sgt D C Smith (Probably David Crofton Smith RAFVR (1239555)).
Francis O'Grady was born on 26th March 1920 in Sydney and enlisted into the RAAF there.
The first six named on the list above were flying in Halifax JD152 on 28th May 1943 when it crashed at Lavesum, near Haltein, Germany with the loss of all the crew. All are buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Leslie Westwood received a commission on 27th August 1943 (158801) to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He was made a PoW as a result of failing to return from Ops on 22nd / 23rd October 1943 in Halifax JB856.
F/Sgt David Smith was coming to the end of his Heavy Conversion Unit training and was flying with 77 Squadron on this operational flight to gain operational experience prior to being posted operational with his own crew. He completed his training and was posted to 51 Squadron but was killed on 13th May 1943 and is buried in Harlingen General Cemetery, Holland. He was twenty one years old.
Halifax JB865 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 16th March 1943. As a result of battle damage on 4th April 1943 and then on 1st May 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment each time that saw it was repaired on site each time. On 13th May 1943 it crashed at Bishop Wilton on return from an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 5th June 1943 having flown a total of 70 hours 40 minutes total.