Halifax JD121 damaged by flak, returned to Elvington airfield.
On the night of 29th / 30th May 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Wuppertal and took off from Elvington airfield at 22.12hrs, prior to arriving over the target area the aircraft was badly damaged by flak damaging the mid upper turret, fuselage and mainplane and the starboard aileron control was shot away. Dispite this damage the crew pressed on and they bombed the PFF target markers from 18,000 feet. The crew were able to make a safe return to Elvington and land there at 03.29hrs. The pilot was later awarded the DFM for his actions on this night.
Pilot - P/O James Harrison Rank RAFVR (146861).
Flight Engineer - Sgt E Stanhope.
Navigator - F/O A Wood. (probably F/O Albert Wood RAFVR (121736)).
Bomb Aimer - P/O J McClelland.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt J S Muir.
Air Gunner - Sgt T G W Chalmers.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt H P MacPherson.
Second Pilot - Sgt Alexander Massie RAFVR (1345043).
F/O Albert Wood was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 16th November 1943. He remained in the RAFVR until 13th March 1954 when he relinquished his commission.
On 24th August 1943 P/O Massie was flying 77 Squadron Halifax JD379 when the aircraft was lost on Ops to Berlin. He is buried Hannover War Cemetery.
James Rank received a commission on 1st May 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) but this was not notified until a couple of months later so he was awarded the DFM for his actions on this night in May 1943 and the citation for this reads. "One night in May 1943 Sgt Rank was captain of a bomber which was detailed to attack Wuppertal. When nearing the target the aircraft was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire and damage was sustained which rendered the bomber difficult to control. Shortly afterwards the rear gunner reported the approach of an unidentified aircraft, and in most harassing circumstances Sergeant Rank was compelled to take evasive action. Still pursued, he pressed on to the target and made a successful and determined attack. Photographs showed that his bombs fell on the aiming point. During the attack the pursuing aircraft was evaded and course was set for base where a difficult landing was made with superb skill. Sergeant Rank displayed high courage and great determination to complete his task successfully." He was promoted to F/O on 1st November 1943 and Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1945. He was later promoted to F/Lt on 1st May 1945 but reliquished his commission on the grounds of medical unfitness on 8th November 1945.
Halifax JD121 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4c by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge as new by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 3rd April 1943. On 30th May 1943 it sustained battle damage on Ops to Wuppertal, Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. On 28th July 1943 it was damaged by a night fighter on Ops to Hamburg, Cat.Ac/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site with it servicable on 27th August 1943. On 23rd October 1943 the aircraft failed to return from Ops to Kassel, Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperowk in the UK and the aircraft was struck off charge on 28th October 1943 having clocked up a total of 192 flying hours from new.