Wellington MS481 damaged by flak, returned to Topcliffe airfield.
This 424 Squadron aircraft took off from Topcliffe airfield at 18.19hrs on 3rd March 1943 to undertake an operational flight to bomb Hamburg. The aircraft carried only one 4000lb bomb and this hung-up over the target. The aircraft returned to base with the bomb and landed safely at 00.55hrs on 4th March 1943 and the unit record book stated that it had received many flak holes. With this being a Wellington the holes were probably made in the doped canvas and were easily repaired.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr William Ezekiel Allison RAFVR (115784), of Greatham, Hartlepool, Co.Durham.
Navigator - F/Sgt D R/P Henderson.
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt A J Irvine.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Sidney Edward Finlayson RCAF (R/71000), of Broadview, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Air Gunner - F/Lt Jack Stansbury McCrae RCAF (C/15018), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Ernest Arthur Spencer-Matthews RAFVR (751813).
Sidney Finlayson was awarded the DFM for service with 424 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st October 1943.
Jack McCrae was awarded the DFC for service with 424 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st October 1943.
Ernest Spencer-Matthews received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 6th October 1943 (159234) and rose to F/O on 6th April 1944. He survived the War and remained in the RAF until March 1959.
William Allision received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 30th January 1942. He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and later to F/Lt (war subs) on 20th January 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 424 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943. He was killed on 28th November 1943 while instructing with 16 O.T.U. when Wellington X3923 collided with Wellington HE904 over Oxfordshire. He was twenty three years old and was buried at Greatham Church Cemetery, Hartlepool.
Wellington MS481 was built to contract 92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong Ltd at Blackpool and was taken on charge directly on 25th February 1943. The damage susained on 3rd March 1943 is not recorded on it's AM Form 78. It was transferred to 428 Squadron on 19th April 1943 and was ditched on 20th May 1943 on return from an Essen. Sadly one of it's crew drowned. Cat.E damage was recorded on the aircraft's paperwork.