Halifax JD264 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.

On 9th July 1943 this aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 23.10hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Gelsenkirchen. The crew released their bombs over the target area from 20,000ft at 01.24hrs but just after releasing them the aircraft was hit by flak in the starboard outer engine. The crew were able to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire and they landed safely at Snaith airfield in the early hours of 10th July 1943 at 05.43hrs.

Pilot - S/Ldr Lloyd Higgs Eno RAF (40096).

Navigator - F/O James Gordon Dippie RAFVR (134385).

Bomb Aimer - F/O Leslie Francis Clarke RAFVR (134715), of New Ferry, Cheshire.

Wireless Operator - F/Sgt Sidney Hodges RAFVR (1310848), of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

Flight Engineer - Sgt John Lanaghan RAFVR (1035438), of Houghton-le-Spring, Co.Durham.

Air Gunner - Sgt Brian Seymour Uppington RAFVR (1318009), of Maesteg, Glamorgan.

Air Gunner - P/O Robert William Lorenzo RAFVR (148092).

Second Pilot - P/O Arthur Robert Burchett (50040), of Accrington, Lancashire.

Robert Lorenzo was granted a commission on 1st June 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation and was promoted to F/O on 1st December 1943 and F/Lt on 1st June 1945. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron.
On the night of 20th / 21st December 1943 F/Lt Burchett was flying 51 Squadron Halifax HR948 on Ops to Frankfurt, the aircraft was badly damaged by flak over the target and only some of the crew were able to escape the damaged aircraft. F/Lt Burchett was killed and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. He was awarded the Air Force Cross, Gazetted on 1st January 1944 which must have been for service with 51 Squadron.
On 15th March 1944 Eno (24), Clarke (20), Uppington (21) and Dippie were flying Halifax LW497 on Ops to Stuttgart. The aircraft was badly damaged by flak over the target, two of the crew survived baling out including P/O Dippie and became PoWs. Sadly Eno, Clarke and Uppington were killed and are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.

Lloyd Eno received his commission on 5th September 1937 and was promoted to F/O on 12th January 1940. He was injured on active service in late September / early October 1940 then promoted to F/Lt on 12th January 1941. He was later Mentioned in Despatches on 24th September 1941 and rose to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st March 1942. For service with 51 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 15th October 1943. He was awarded the DSO, Gazetted on 31st March 1944 (which would be after his death) also for service with 51 Squadron, the citation for his DSO reads.."This officer has completed many sorties on his second tour of operations, and his continued good work has won great praise. In recent operations S/Ldr Eno has attacked many targets, including Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Magdeburg and Berlin. He has at all times displayed great courage and determination, and his example has impressed all. In addition to his work in the air, S/Ldr Eno has rendered valuable service in the training of other members of the squadron."

Brian Uppington received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 8th December 1943 (169192). He was awarded the DFC, Gazetted after his death on 21st December 1945 (effective from 14th March 1944).

Leslie Clarke received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 20th November 1942 and was promoted to F/O on 20th May 1943.

James Dippie received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 22nd December 1942, he was promoted to F/O on 22nd June 1943 and later to F/Lt on 22nd December 1944 while a PoW.

John Lanaghan received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 19th August 1943 (155909). On the night of 21st January 1944 he was killed flying Ops to Magdeburg in Halifax LV774 which crashed in Holland. He is buried Oldebroek General Cemetery.
Sidney Hodges was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th February 1944 while in the rank of Warrant Officer. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 5th April 1944 (1310848) and was promoted to F/O on 5th October 1944. He was serving with 128 Squadron on 12th November 1945 when he died in the crash of Stirling PJ950 in North Africa which cost the lives of some twenty eight service personnel. He was twenty five years old and is buried in Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya.

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