Halifax JB911 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf and took off from Elvington airfield at around 22.00hrs. The aircraft's elevator controls and ammunition tracking in the fuselage sustained damaged by flak whilst near the target area. The crew were able to make a safe return to Elvington and land there in the early hours. The photograph above is a reasonably famous photograph and shows Halifax JB911 making a very low pass of Elvington airfield with probably Halifax DT736 on the ground (which carried the "KN-M" code).
Pilot - Sgt Raymond Fraser Smith RCAF.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ronald Charles Cottingham Jones RAF (633301).
Navigator - Sgt Albert John Page RAFVR (1382755).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Harold Cork RAFVR (1534460).
Wireless Operator - Sgt G E Jones.
Air Gunner - Sgt F S Jones.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt F H Pollock.
Second Pilot - Sgt Gordon Newell Cockcroft RAFVR (1230741).
Halifax JB911 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 31st March 1943. On 27th April 1943, 28th May 1943, 12th June 1943 and 26th July 1943 it sustained minor damage by flak on Ops. Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment each time with repairs on site made each time. On 16th September 1943 it was hit over the target on Ops by falling incendiaries from a higher flying aircraft, Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and on 19th September 1943 a repair on site commenced by a team from Handley Page Ltd. The aircraft was returned to 77 Squadron charge on 7th October 1943. On 18th November 1943 it was flown on an operational flight to Mannheim and the crew landed at Harwell on return. While the squadron records do not state any damage resulted it appears likely because a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment was made. The damage was repaired on site and on 24th December 1943 it was returned to 77 Squadron charge. It remained with 77 Squadron and moved with them to Full Sutton on 15th May 1944. The aircraft was transferred to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall on 24th June 1944. On 16th November 1944 it was flown to 45 MU at Kinloss for storage and lasted until 1st November 1946 when it was struck off charge and sold for scrap.
Ronald Jones completed his Tour with 77 Squadron and later flew a second tour with 156 Squadron, he was awarded the DFM for his service, Gazetted on 13th February 1945 and the citation mentions both his tours.
Raymond Smith was born in Vancouver in 1923 and enlisted for RCAF service in 1941. He was granted a commission in 1943 and awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th October 1943. He survived the War.
Harold Cork received the DFM for his service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th November 1943.
Albert Page received the DFM for his service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on the date as Cork on 16th November 1943. He received his commission on 22nd November 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) (168972) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 22nd May 1944 and to F/Lt on 22nd November 1945.