Halifax JB974 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to Melbourne airfield.

On the night of 12th / 13th May 1943 this 10 Squadron aircraft left Melbourne airfield at 23.41hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. Flying with the regular crew of seven was a second pilot who was flying for operational experience prior to starting operational flying with his own crew. At 02.00hrs as they were making their way towards the target area the Halifax was attacked by an Me110 which saw damage to the tail, bomb doors and three fuel tanks receiving damage. The rear gunner in the Halifax returned fire and hit the Me110 in the belly and the nose which was then seen to climb sharply and then dive out of sight. The crew jettisoned the bomb load during the attack. Half and hour later the Halifax was followed by an Me109 but after taking evasive action it did not attack. The crew made a safe return to base and landed at 04.29hrs. The following night this crew were flying a different aircraft on Ops to Bochum when they were again attacked by enemy aircraft, the rear gunner again returned fire and drove off the attackers. For his actions on both nights which undoubtably saved the lives of all of his crew the twenty year old was awarded a richly deserved DFM. Sadly during the encounter on the second night the mid upper gunner left the aircraft and did not survive. The rear gunner's DFM, Gazetted on 4th June 1943, stated..

"One night in May 1943, this airman was the rear gunner of an aircraft detailed to attack Duisburg. During the operation his aircraft was attacked and damaged by an enemy fighter Sergeant Compton resolutely returned fire and, following an accurate burst, the enemy aircraft stalled and then fell towards the ground, disappearing out of sight through the clouds. Half-an-hour later, the bomber was again attacked by enemy fighters. In the ensuing action Sergeant Compton coolly and skilfully used his guns while giving his captain directions which enabled him to evade the attackers. The following night during an operation against Bochum his aircraft which had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire, was attacked by two enemy aircraft. Displaying great skill and determination, Sergeant Compton shot one of them down. Although his guns were rendered useless, he gave his captain commentary which enabled him to evade the remaining fighter. On both occasions this airman displayed great courage and determination and contributed materially to the safe return of the aircraft." The battle damage incident after this one involved Halifax HR695 and I have a made a webpage specifically for that incident.

Pilot - P/O Graham Thomas Beveridge RAFVR (146337).

Naviagtor - Sgt Stanley Kiran Gordon-Powell RAFVR (1332785).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt H C Billett RAFVR (1318497).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt R J Taylor.

Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Allan Frank McCoy RCAF (R/123498).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Leslie Ernest Carey RCAF (R/125005).

Air Gunner - Sgt Francis Cyril Compton RAFVR (1322681).

Second Pilot - Sgt C Cribb.

Halifax JB974 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 21st April 1943. As a result of battle damage on Ops on 13th May 1943 Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and a repair on site commenced on 17th May 1943. The aircraft was returned to 10 Squadron on 19th June 1943. On 11th August 1943 it appears to have sustained minor battle damage on Ops to Nuremberg though the squadron records do not list any, Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment given on the AM Form 78 for the aircraft and it was repaired on site. It returned to 10 Squadron charge on 6th September 1943. On 8th October 1943 it's then flight engine walked into a rotating propeller at Melbourne, he was incredibly lucky to receive only minor injuries. On 23rd October 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Kassel with the loss of the seven man crew. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 31st October 1943. It had clocked up 126 flying hours from new.
Allan McCoy was born on 23rd June 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Frank and Winnie Edith (nee Farquharson) McCoy. He lived in Toronto until he was six then moved to Chicago, USA and later returned to Toronto. His parents appear to have split up and his mother moved back or remained in Toronto and would re-marry while his father remained in Chicago. As a young man he attended high school at Danforth, Illinois, USA and then worked as a clerk in a jewellers. He enlisted for RCAF service on 11th August 1941 in Toronto and after training in Canada he was awarded his air gunners flying badge on 16th February 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 7 AGS, 24 OTU and 10 CF before posting to 10 Squadron on 22nd November 1942. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
This crew received a new air gunner following and were later posted to 35 Squadron. They were flying Halifax HR812 on 28th June 1942 on Ops to Cologne when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter over Belgium. Beveridge, Carey and Compton DFM were killed while the others survived and became PoWs.

Graham Beveridge received a commission to the rank of P/O on 10th May 1943.

Back to monthly table.