Halifax JB893 at Leeming airfield.
On the night of 3rd / 4th April 1943 this 405 Squadron undertook an operational flight to bomb Essen, they took off from Leeming airfield at 19.53hrs and were over the target area at 22.10hrs. The aircraft received attention from flak batteries and may have received minor flak damage. The brakes failed on landing at 01.01hrs at Leeming, unfortunately the aircraft struck Halifax JB906 and received repairable damage.
Pilot - F/Lt Hanlan Donald Richard Leroy Campbell DFC RAFVR (87059), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Navigator - F/O Albert William Thompson RCAF (J/12987).
Navigator (Bomb Aimer?) - P/O Maurice Henry Joseph Hammill RAFVR (130409).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Arthur C Ross RAFVR (938849).
Air Gunner - Sgt L S Gray.
Air Gunner - Sgt Lloyd Albert Stinson RCAF (R/116452).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John McLaren Harrison RCAF (R/70275).
Second Pilot - Sgt James Martin RCAF (R/122787).
While training at 22 OTU P/O Hammill survived the crash of Wellington HF751 at Gaydon on 4th January 1943.
Halifax JB893 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English ELectric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 405 Squadron at Leeming on 22nd March 1943. It was damaged in a collision with Halifax JB906 on 4th April 1943 at Leeming. Cat.A(c)/FB damage was the damage assessment and the repair commenced on site on 8th April 1943. 405 Squadron moved to Gransden Lodge while it was being repaired and on 18th May 1943 it was returned to them. On 2nd June 1943 it was transferred to 408 Squadron at Leeming. It sustained minor flak damage on 11th / 12th June 1943 and also flak damage on 13th / 14th July 1943 with 408 Squadron and was repaired on site both times. On 12th August 1943 it was transferred to 429 Squadron at Leeming when 408 Squadron began converting to Lancasters. On 29th August 1943 it was transferred to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe. On 12th October 1943 it was being flown on a cross country flight when it caught fire and crashed at Lower Brailes, Oxfordshire. Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge.
All of the above apart from the second pilot were soon posted from 405 Squadron to 408 Squadron. On 13th / 14th May 1943 Campbell, Harrison, Thompson, Hammill, Ross and Stinson were flying together in 405 Squadron Halifax JB931 on Ops to Bochum when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter off the Dutch coast. Campbell, Harrison and Stinson died and are buried in Flushing Northern Cemetery in Holland while Thompson, Hammill and Ross were rescued and became PoWs.
Hanlon Campbell was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1918 but was living in Vancouver when he joined the RAF in October 1939. He received his commission on 19th October 1940, he was confirmed in his appointment exactly a year later and promoted to F/O (war subs). He joined 408 Squadron in June 1941 and for service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th February 1942. Hugh Halliday's Canadian air research has found an article in the RAF Quarterly (June 1942) which states that "This officer has shown great courage and persistence in attacking heavily defended targets in enemy territory. In September 1941 he participated in three daylight raids over France. On each occasion his aircraft sustained damage from the enemy's fire, but despite this he carried out his missions successfully. Pilot Officer Campbell has consistently shown a high standard of keenness and devotion to duty." He was promoted on 19th October 1942 to F/Lt (war subs) and was still at 408 Squadron when the mishap at Leeming occurred in April 1943 though may well have been in the rank of Acting S/Ldr at the time.