Halifax JD109 damaged by flak, returned to Melbourne airfield.

On the night of 11th / 12th June 1943 the crew of this 10 Squadron aircraft took off from Melbourne airfield at 20.55hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf. They bombed the target area at 01.41hrs from 20,000 feet on the PFF target markers but while over the target area the aircraft received minor flak damage to the port bomb doot and one of the wings. Despite the damage the crew managed to make the return to base and landed at Melbourne at 04.00hrs. This was one of six 10 Squadron Halifaxes damaged on this night. This aircraft was repaired and flown by this crew operationally the following night.

Pilot - Sgt Jack Watson RAFVR (1239046).

Navigator - Sgt Henry Charles William Nash RAFVR (1377535).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt William John McKay RAFVR (1391576).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William George Brown RAFVR (1384984).

Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Edwin Lewis RCAF (R/139045).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Gerald Wilfred Rockwood RAF (339812). Of Newfoundland.

Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Sutcliffe RAFVR (1324374).

On 19th / 20th June 1943 all of the above were flying 10 Squadron Halifax JD109 on Ops to Le Creusot when the aircraft crashed in France. All were killed and are buried at Bretteville Sur Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France.

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