Halifax JN923 damaged in the air, landed at Snaith airfield.
During the evening of 20th December 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron undertook an operational flight to bomb Frankfurt and took off from Snaith at 16.47hrs.
While over the target area a flak burst damaged the cockpit glazing and injured the pilot in the face. Another aircraft flying higher than them released their bombs and some incendiaries struck Halifax JN923 further damaging it. The crew were able to fly back to Snaith where they landed at 22.03hrs but after assessment the damage was deemed beyond economic repair and the aircraft was written off.
The pilot, Thomas Blyth, was awarded the DFC for his actions on this night. The citation adds more detail and states that.. "One night in December 1943, this officer was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Frankfurt. Whilst over the target area the aircraft was hit. The windscreen was shattered and some of the flying fragments entered Flight Lieutenant Blyth's neck; he was also struck in the face by the clear vision panel which had been torn loose. One of the petrol tanks was pierced, its contents becoming lost. Although badly dazed and almost frozen by the icy blast from the air flow which poured in through the shattered windscreen, Flight Lieutenant Blyth executed his bombing attack and afterwards flew the aircraft to base. He displayed great courage, determination and fortitude."
Pilot - F/Lt Thomas Sidley Blyth RAFVR (126153)
Navigator - P/O Peter Russell Galan RCAF (J/18391).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Clifford Owen Russell RAFVR (138894).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Raymond William Berdinner RAFVR (1429655).
Flight Engineer - P/O Francis William McLelland RAFVR (160622).
Air Gunner - Sgt N A Chappell RAF (552740).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick James Littlejohns RAFVR (1601660).
Peter Galan was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th June 1944. His Tour began on 13th July 1943.
Clifford Russell received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd March 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th June 1944. By March 1945 he was flying another Tour with 35 Squadron PFF, on 8th March 1945 he was killed when Lancaster ME361 failed to return from an operational flight. He was flying in a scratch crew with one of the finest Bomber Command pilots of the whole war (S/Ldr Daniel Trevor Bulmer Everett DFC and 2 Bars) and their aircraft served as the Master Bomber's aircraft. He is buried in Hamburg Cemetery and was twenty five years old.
Raymond Berdinner was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 6th June 1944. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 24th August 1944 and rose to F/O six months later.
Francis McLelland received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 24th October 1943 rising to F/O six months later and to F/Lt in October 1945. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th June 1944. He either later left the RAF and re-joined in 1964 or served until 1964 when he was appointed to a commission in the Training Branch of the RAF.
Frederick Littlejohns was awarded the DFM for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th June 1944 for service prior to receiving a commission. He had received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd April 1944 rising to F/O six months later and to F/Lt in April 1946.
Thomas Blyth had received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 1st May 1942 and rose to F/O six months later. He and his crew were posted to 51 Squadron from 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit on 5th July 1943. He was in the rank of Acting F/Lt in late-1943 and rose to F/O (war subs) on 1st May 1944. He was later awarded the Air Force Cross, Gazetted on 1st January 1946, for service instructing at 20 OTU. He remained in the RAFVR at least until 1958 but had gained employment as a civilian flying instuctor some years before. In 1952 he joined Airwork Services Ltd and two years later was appointed to become chief flying instructor for the Scottish Aero Club, Perth. He was tragically killed in a flying accident on 27th June 1962 when Chipmunk G-APMW crashed near Stanley, Perthshire.