Halifax JB867 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.

On the night of 29th / 30th March 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft took off from Pocklington airfield at 22.06hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. While over Hannover the aircraft received fairly serious flak damage, the starboard elevator received damage with the trimming tab controls being severed and also the TR9 radio aerial being shot off the aircraft. Despite the damage the crew were able to bring the aircraft safely back to base and landed at Pocklington airfield at 06.04hrs.

Pilot - Acting S/Ldr John Everard Hadfield Marshall DFC RAF (42622).

Navigator - P/O Angus MacKenzie McDonald DFM RAAF (401338).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt B W (or J B) Mitchell.

Air Gunner - F/Sgt D H Jones.

Air Gunner - P/O Thomas McLoughlin RAFVR (131658).

Flight Engineer - Sgt A W Johnson.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Philip Roberts Dunsford RAFVR (1383185).

Second Pilot? - F/Sgt P Whittle.

Halifax JB867 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 1th March 1943. As a result of minor flak damage on 30th March 1943 Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 4th April 1943 it was again damaged by flak on Ops to Essen which unfortunately killed the rear gunner P/O Thomas McLoughlin. Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was again repaired on site. On 5th May 1943 it crashed at Pocklington on take off for a training flight. Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 16th May 1943 having clocked up 53 hours total flying time from new.

Back to monthly table.