Wellington LN438 damaged by flak, returned to Topcliffe airfield.
On the night of 8th / 9th April 1943 this aircraft was one belonging to 424 Squadron that had carried out an operational flight to bomb Duisburg. The aircraft took off from Topcliffe at 21.17hrs. Despite thick cloud over the target area the crew released their bomb load at 23.25hrs from 14,000 feet and the aircraft sustained minor flak damage. The crew made a safe return to base landing at Topcliffe at 03.10hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt Stanley John Nicolle RAFVR (1068397).
Navigator - P/O E H Gardiner.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Samuel Dudley Rollinson RAFVR (1575725).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ingvald John Berdahl RCAF (R/92608).
Air Gunner - Sgt Walter Raymond Roberts RCAF (R/126403).
Samuel Rollinson and Walter Roberts were killed flying with 424 Squadron on 29th June 1943 while they were operating in the Middle East. They are commemorated on the Malta Memorial.
Stanley Nicolle was a Guernseyman. He received a commission on the 9th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation although the London Gazette only notified the world of this in August 1943. He was promoted to F/O on 9th September 1943 and received the DFC for service with 424 Squadron, Gazetted on 30th November 1943.
Wellington LN438 was built to contract B124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Chester and was received by 18 MU on 16th February 1943. It was taken on charge by 424 Squadron at Topcliffe on 3rd April 1943. It sustained minor flak damage on 9th April 1943. Cat.A/FB damage was the probable damage assessment as anything greater would be recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. A repair on site was carried out. The aircraft was transferred to 429 Squadron at East Moor on 18th April 1943. It was badly damaged in a crash at East Moor on 4th May 1943. The damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA and it was struck off charge on 12th May 1943. It had clocked up a total of nearly 31 hours flying time.