During the afternoon of 2nd August 1943 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a training flight, soon after taking off at 14.07hrs the crew received notification that the port tyre had burst on take off. After the flight lasting two hours the crew landed the aircraft at Lindholme but the undercarriage leg that the damaged tyre was attached did not withstand the landing and collapsed. After the damage was assessed the aircraft was deemed beyond repair.
Instructor Pilot - P/O John Edward Gibbs DFM RAF (52559).
Trainee Pilot - P/O John Horsley RAFVR (161592).
On 8th August 1939 Sgt John Gibbs was serving with 38 Squadron and was the second pilot of Wellington L4235 that was partly abandoned over Thetford, Norfolk after the aircraft suffered engine failure. On the night of 18th / 19th June 1940 he was still flying with 38 Squadron and flying Wellington P9296 undertaking an operational flight to bomb Bremen, the aircraft was damaged by enemy action but he managed to return to the UK. For service with 38 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 30th July 1940. The citation, as printed in Ian Tavender's "The Distinguished Flying Medal Register", mentions the incident on 19th June 1940 and reads.. "Since November 1939 this NCO pilot has taken part in five long sweeps over the North Sea, 1 night reconnaissance over Germany and a day search for an enemy ship as far as the South West coast of Norway when the formation was heavily attacked by superior numbers of enemy aircraft, and 14 major operations over Norway, Denmark, Holland and France. He has at all times displayed a conspicuous determination and devotion to duty, particularly on the following recent occasion :- On the night of 18th June 1940, he carried out an attack on a target at Bremen, having approached at a height of 10,000ft. Despite the presence of a heavy ballon barrage up to 9,000ft, intense flak fire and numerous searchlights, he dived to 7,000ft and succeeded in dropping his bombs with great effect across the railway station and fire broke out. By his persistent determination and skill as a Captain of aircraft, this NCO at all times sets an example of the highest order." He was granted a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 26th May 1943 rising to F/O on 26th November 1943 and to F/Lt on 26th May 1945. I have found a mention that he was later posted to Waddington but I cannot recall where. He was awarded the DFC for service with an unknown unit, Gazetted on 8th December 1944, but probably for continued work in the instruction of aircrew. Post-war he remained in the RAF until retiring as S/Ldr on 26th April 1958. He died in 1990.
Joseph Horsley was from York. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 19th July 1943 (161592) but with the London Gazette only printing the notification of this in December 1943. He was posted to 166 Squadron in September 1943. He and navigator Kenneth Cornwell RAFVR (168642) were awarded immediate DFCs for their actions in late December 1943 on a raid on Berlin. The citation for their DFC's was a joint one and reads.. "These officers were navigator and pilot respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin one night in December 1943. Soon after crossing the enemy coast one of the aircraft's engines became useless. Pilot Officer Horsley continued his mission, however, being greatly assisted in reaching the target at the prescribed time by excellent navigation on the part of Pilot Officer Cornwell who, despite the fluctuations in height and speed displayed great accuracy. In spite of intense light anti-aircraft fire, Pilot Officer Horsley displayed great persistence and made three runs over the target before releasing his bombs. Considerable height had been lost and one of the starboard engines was hit and caught fire; the artificial horizon and the directional gyro were also rendered useless. Two engines were now unserviceable. Nevertheless, Pilot Officer Horsley flew the damaged aircraft to base. On the homeward flight, Pilot Officer Cornwell proved his skill in extremely difficult circumstances and his faultless navigation contributed materially to the safe return of the bomber. These officers, who have completed many sorties, have invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage and devotion to duty". He was promoted to F/O on 19th January 1944 but was killed on 29th January 1944 when flying Lancaster ND382 on Ops to Berlin when the aircraft crashed in Germany with the loss of the whole crew. He was twenty two years old and is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
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