On the night of 30th / 31st August 1943 this aircraft was being flown by a 102 Squadron crew on an operational flight to bomb Monchengladbach. They took off at 00.06hrs and bombed the target area from 17,500 feet. During the course of the night the aircraft sustained damage when it was fired upon by air gunners in another Halifax. It must have sustained fairly serious damage as it landed back at Pocklington at 04.30hrs. The damage was later assessed and a repair was considered but it was later struck off charge after further assessment when it was then deemed to be too badly damaged.
Pilot - P/O James Bowman RAFVR (148116).
Second Pilot - Sgt J Symonds.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Haroll Richard Mock RAFVR (1402631).
Navigator - F/Sgt D Galbraith (Possibly Daniel Galbraith RAFVR (1344926)).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt J H Loveless (Possibly Sgt John Hannan Loveless RAFVR (1388188)).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt G C Parry.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt John James Prinsloo (778947).
Air Gunner - Sgt Sidney James Tregunno RAFVR (1031723).
All of the above except the second pilot were flying together with 102 Squadron on 4th May 1943 in Halifax W7820 on ops to Dortmund when three of the engines failed on the return, the pilot attempted to fly home on just one engine but the aircraft eventually lost so much height he was forced to ditch in the North Sea around fifty miles off Flamborough Head. The crew got into the dinghy and awaited rescue which later came in the form of a 279 Squadron Hudson dropping a lifeboat, the crew transferred to the lifeboat and were then picked up by a high speed launch boat and taken to Grimsby.
James Bowman received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 30th June 1943. For service with 102 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 22nd October 1943, the citation refers to him flying in the Middle East but this unit is not yet known by me. The citation reads.."This officer has completed a large number of sorties, many of them whilst serving in the Middle East. He has executed his tasks with skill and determination and his excellent example has proved a source of inspiration. On several occasions his aircraft has sustained damage by enemy action but each time, except on one occasion when he was forced to come down on to the sea, he has flown his damaged bomber to base. He has displayed great courage and devotion to duty." He was promoted to F/O on 30th December 1943 and to F/Lt on 30th June 1945. He was also awarded the Bar to DFC flying PFF Mosquitos but I have not found the entry in the London Gazette. He died March 2013, aged 90.
Sidney Tregunno was awarded the CGM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th October 1945, the citation reads.. "W/O Tregunno is engaged on his second tour of operations, having now completed 16 sorties of 98 hours 13 minutes operational time against the most heavily defended targets and at extreme range, such as Berlin, Milan, Peenemi~nde, Le Cruesot and Munich. He also participated in three of the major raids in the battle of Hamburg. On his first operation in 1943, the crew ditched in the North Sea after the aircraft had been attacked by an enemy aircraft which he probably destroyed. They were the first crew to be rescued by an airborne life boat. During the remainder of his tour, he shared with the other gunner in the crew two more Junkers 88s destroyed for certain. On one occasion, during a raid on Nuremburg, the aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighters, which the gunners eventually drove off The running battle lasted for over 20 minutes. In his second tour, he has on several occasions issued evasive instructions confidently to the captain of his aircraft, and so enabled him to evade contact with enemy fighters. At all times this Warrant Officer has shown great courage and determination in the face of the enemy, and there is no doubt that his calm and confident manner is the greatest asset to his crew. He has maintained the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force throughout a long operational tour. He is strongly recommended for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal."
If the navigator was Daniel Galbraith as guessed above then he was still serving (flyin a second tour?) with 102 Squadron on 16th January 1945 and flying in Halifax LW179 flying Ops to Magdeburg. The aircraft crashed in Germany with the loss of the whole of his then crew. He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
Haroll Mock received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 6th December 1943 (169648) and rose to F/O on 6th June 1944. F/O Mock later served with 76 Squadron, he died on 1st February 1945 when Halifax MZ516 crashed in Norfolk. He is buried Exeter Higher Cemetery.
John Prinsloo received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 3rd June 1944 (160288) and rose to F/O on 3rd December 1945. He left the RAF in 1946 on transfer to the Southern Rhodesian Air Force.