Halifax JD309 damaged by flak, returned to Snaith airfield.
On 13th July 1943 this aircraft took off from Snaith airfield at 23.45hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Aachen. The crew bombed the target area from 18,000ft
at 01.51hrs and as they released the bombs a flak burst damaged the bomb bay and hydraulic system, the navigator was also slightly injured by the flak burst. The crew were
able to bring the aircraft back to Yorkshire and they landed safely at Snaith airfield in the early hours of 14th July 1943 at 05.11hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Ronald Eric Carder RAFVR (1382531).
Navigator - Sgt Elmer Seddon Storey RAFVR (1511664). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Charles Alastair King RAFVR (1560457).
Wireless Operator - Sgt Cyril Kettley RAF (1090517).
Flight Engineer - Sgt G Burdsall RAF (993633).
Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Ronald Albone RAFVR (1576661), of Coventry.
Air Gunner - Sgt T A Campbell RAF (1550270).
On the night of 6th / 7th September 1943 this crew were flying Halifax HR925 on Ops to Munich when the aircraft
was attacked and badly damaged by an enemy aircraft which wounded Sgt Campbell. F/Sgt Carder took evasive action but
in doing so the ailerons locked to one side which resulted in the aircraft loosing height and going in circles. The crew were
very lucky, F/Sgt Carder managed to wrench the aileron control level and they made a safe return to base. The rear gunner Sgt
Campbell was admitted to hospital on their return to base.
Sgt Albone sumbitted a combat report which is held in the National Archives for this date which
suggests that there was more to this incident than just the flak damage. There is no mention of
anything else occurring in the 51 Squadron ORB and I have yet to buy his combat report.
The first six named above were flying together on the night of 19th / 20th February 1944 in Halifax LW481 on Ops to Leipzig with 51 Squadron
when the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. They were joined by a different mid upper gunner and second pilot (the latter flying for
operational experience). Sgt Albone and the second pilot were killed while the other six survived. Sgt Arthur Albone is buried in Berlin War
Cemetery, he was twenty one years old.
Ronald Calder received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 25th August 1943 and rose to F/O on 25th February 1944 and F/Lt on 25th August 1945.
Elmer Storey received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 11th September 1943 and rose to F/O on 11th March 1944 and F/Lt on 11th September 1945.
Charles King received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 5th December 1943 and rose to F/O on 5th June 1944 and F/Lt on 5th December 1945.
Cyril Kettley received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th September 1943 and rose to F/O on 30th March 1944 and F/Lt on 30th September 1945.