On the night of 27th / 28th July 1943 the crew of this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington airfield at 22.30hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Hamburg.
During the course of the flight the Halifax was attacked by an Me110, while the Halifax's gunners returned fire and the pilot took evasive action, the Halifax received minor damage during the combat. The crew managed to make a safely landing at Elvington at 03.53hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Douglas Brown RAFVR (1046286).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J L Clark.
Navigator - Sgt L E Barrett RCAF (later J/14803).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt R D Moore.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O Cyril Charles Isaac RAFVR (127859).
Air Gunner - Sgt H T Smith RCAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt T B Rowan.
This crew were soon posted out of 77 Squadron in August 1943. By Spring 1944 all were serving with 148 (Special Duties) Squadron in North Africa and later in Italy. They would fly supply dropping flights to Italy, the Balkans and also to attempt to drop supplies to Warsaw, Poland (as part of what became known as the legendary "Warsaw Airlift"). This crew were at 148 Squadron at the time of the Warsaw Airlift but I have not yet worked out if they flew as part of it.
Cyril Isaac received a commission on 15th August 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 148 Squadron, Gazetted on 17th October 1944.
Douglas Brown received a commission on 5th July 1944. He was awarded the DFC for service with 148 Squadron, Gazetted on 29th December 1944.
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.
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