Halifax LK658 damaged by flak, returned to Leeming airfield.

On the night of 22nd / 23rd October 1943 the crew of this 427 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at around 17.30hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Kassel. Before reaching the target area the aircraft was hit by flak (with fourteen holes later being found in the aircraft). In the course of taking evasive action to escape from searchlights and the flak guns the navigator lost his barings and the crew spent twenty minutes trying to work out where they were. Having then fallen behind the bomber stream they then opted to release their bomb load over the the Ruhr Valley and make for home. They landed safely at Leeming around midnight.

Pilot - Sgt Alton Robert Ralph McQuade RCAF (R/96829).

Navigator - Sgt D M Lunney RCAF (R/126533).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt R H Law RCAF (R/133732).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J Fraser RAFVR (1311594).

Air Gunner - Sgt W C Patter RCAF (R/185682).

Air Gunner - Sgt E Foster RCAF (R/123548).

Flight Engineer - Sgt M Herbert RAFVR (1603464).

Alton McQuade was born in Bedford, Quebec, Canada in 1921 and enlisted for RCAF service in Quebec in August 1941. After service with 427 Squadron he was posted to 405 Squadron. He, Lunney, Law, Fraser, Patter and Foster were flying together in 405 Squadron Lancaster JB668 on Ops to Berlin on 29th December 1943 when the aircraft was badly damaged by flak, they managed to make a landing at Woodbridge airfield in Suffolk but the aircraft was badly damaged. He was later posted to 419 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 25th July 1944.

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