Halifax W1221 damaged by flak, returned to Lissett airfield.
On the night of 27th / 28th March 1943 the crew of this 158 Squadron Halifax undertook an operational flight to bomb Berlin and took off from Lissett airfield at 20.26hrs. The crew bombed the target area from 18,000 feet at 23.25hrs but the aircraft was coned in searchlights at that time and for eight minutes after releasing their bombs. Flak guns opened up on the aircraft and it received damage to the rear turret, the fuselage and an engine cowling. While taking evasive action during the flak bursts the aircraft turned onto it's back and went into a spin, the engines also stopped. The pilot was able to bring the aircraft back in control after loosing 7,000 feet in height but during the spin an escape hatch opened causing various items including the wireless operator's watch and gloves, bomb aimers gloves and various equipment to fall out of the aircraft. Having regained control the pilot managed to fly back to Lissett and landed at 04.10hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Charles Kenneth Surgey RAFVR (1388224).
Flight Engineer - Sgt George Thomas Ayton RAFVR (807305).
Navigator - Sgt Cyril Strand RAFVR (1376766).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Kenneth Scott RAFVR (1506248).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O Lawrence Wesley Curtis RAFVR (139644).
Mid Upper Gunner - F/Sgt Stephen James Marugg RCAF (R/93458).
Rear Gunner - Sgt William George RAFVR (1349772).
On 17th February 1943 the pilot was taxying Halifax DT640 at Rufforth when he became distracted by radio transmission to the aircraft, the aircraft ran off the end of the runway, left the concrete and ran into a ditch. On 29th / 30th May 1943 Surgey, Ayton, Strand, George and Marugg were flying an operational flight to bomb Wuppertal in Halifax HR840 when it crashed in Holland. Surgey, Strand, George and Marugg died while Ayton survived to become PoW. Those who died are buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery.
Lawrence Curtis was later awarded the DFC for service with 158 Squadron. He was later posted to 617 Squadron and was awarded the Bar to the DFC. His wartime life is well documented elsewhere.
Halifax W1221 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. The aircraft was first taken on charge by 158 Squadron at East Moor on 19th July 1942 where it received the squadron code "NP-R". On 6th August 1942 it suffered minor damage on Ops to Duisburg that resulted in Cat.Ac/FB damage being the damage assessment. A repair on site was carried out and it was returned to 158 Squadron at East Moor on 1st September 1942 but its squadron code was then changed to "NP-B". On 2nd October 1942 it sustained flak damage on an operational flight to Krefeld. Cat.Ac/FB damage was again the damage assessment and it was repaired on site. 158 Squadron moved to Rufforth on 6th November 1942 and five days later the aircraft was returned to them, again the squadron code changed, to "NP-M" this time. On 28th February 1943 158 Squadron moved to Lissett. It sustained flak damage on 28th March 1943 on an operational flight to Berlin. Cat.Ac/FB damage was again the damage assessment and it was again repaired on site with it being returned to 158 Squadron on 29th May 1943. On it's return the squadron code was changed to "NP-H". On 14th September 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wigsley. On 30th September 1943 it was transferred to 1668 HCU and then to 1656 HCU on 28th November 1943. On 6th January 1944 and again on 20th February 1944 it received Cat.Ac/FA damage assessments, whether this relates to damage sustained in flying accidents or found during inspections is not known. On 13th August 1944 it received a Cat.B assessment during an inspection but it was not repaired. The aircraft was struck off charge on 1st September 1944.