Lancaster W4308 damaged by flak, returned to Breighton airfield.
In the early hours of 13th January 1943 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were undertaking Ops to bomb Essen and left base at 03.03hrs. Due to thick cloud the crew bombed with the help of the Pathfinder markers and through estimating their position. The squadron ORB stated that they landed at Breighton at 08.35hrs and a flak hole was found in the "fairing". There is only six names listed as being in this aircraft on this night instead of the usual seven. The ORB also listed the pilot as being in the rank of F/Sgt where as his service records give him receiving a commission in mid-December 1942.
Pilot - P/O Anthony Vincent Willis RAAF (402940), of Inverell, New South Wales, Australia.
Navigator - Sgt James Halls Crabb RAAF (401084), of Moreland, Western Australia.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Harry Lloyd RAFVR (1058003),
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Francis Gordon Jackson RAAF (404503), of Lismore, New South Wales, Australia;
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Ratten RAAF (402606), of Thirroul (or Edgecliffe?), New South Wales, Australia.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Robert Thomas Hood RAAF (403268), of Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia.
He received a commission to P/O on 13th December 1942 and rose to F/O on 13th June 1943 and F/Lt on 12th December 1944. He would later return to 460 Squadron after a period of instructing with 1662 HCU on 8th March 1944. For service with 460 Squadron on his second Tour he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 8th December 1944. Both his DFM and DFC were presented to him at Buckingham Palace on 27th November 1945, the citation for his DFC reads.. "S/Ldr Willis has taken part in numerous operational sorties against importany and heavily defended targets in Germany and enemy occupied territory. In April 1944 he was detailed to attack Dusseldorf. When still some distance from the target, the aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter which caused severe damage but, undaunted, he pressed on and bombed the target. By superb piloting, he flew the crippled aircraft back safely to base. By his keenness and devotion to duty, this officer is an outstanding example to all in the Squadron." He took the rank of Acting S/Ldr on 1st April 1944 and Acting W/Co on 6th February 1945. After completing his second Tour he received warm words from A/Comm Sir Hughie Edwards who wrote "..he has all the qualities of a gentleman.." and A/Comm A M Wray MC, DFC, AFC also wrote.. "As a man, an asset to the service, shows promise of becoming a fine type of senior officer." He served at Bomber Command HQ before returning to Australia and being de-mobbed in 1946. He rejoined the RAAF Reserve in 1951. He died in June 1974.
Lancaster W4308 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton. It was taken on charge by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 12th October 1942 shortly after completion while they were converting from Wellingtons to Lancasters. As a result of the minor damage sustained on 13th January 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. It was then lost on 24th January 1943 when it failed to return from an operational flight to Dusseldorf. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork. The aircraft crashed in Holland with two of the seven crew killed with the rest being taken PoW. It was struck off charge on the same date.
Anthony Willis was born on 15th August 1815 in Toorak, Victoria. He enlisted in Sydney on 11th November 1940 and after training was awarded his Wings on 1st September 1941. On arrival in the UK he was posted to 27 OTU on 21st October 1941 and after completing his training received a posting to 460 Squadron on 13th May 1942 (two days before the minor accident at Breighton on 15th May 1942). He later converted to flying the Lancaster type with 460 Squadron Conversion Flight which became 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit before returning to the squadron proper. He was later posted to 1662 HCU on 1st February 1943. For his service with 460 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 20th April 1943. The citation reads.. "This airman has cheerfully and efficiently completed his duties as pilot. He has taken part in many operational flights during which his resourcefulness and skilful airmanship have inspired great confidence in his crew. F/Sgt Willis has displayed exemplary courage and ability on operations."
Sgt Harry Lloyd died on 4th April 1943 on Ops to Kiel in Lancaster W4310. He is buried in Kiel War Cemetery but CWGC list no personal information for him.
James Crabb was born on 26th June 1918 in Subiaco, Western Australia and enlisted in Melbourne. He was awarded the DFC for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943.
Norman Ratten was born on 11th July 1910 in Thirroul, New South Wales. He enlisted on 16th September 1941 in Sydney. After training in Canada he was posted to 27 OTU on 21st October 1941 and then on to 460 Squadron on 13th May 1942. The flak incident recorded above took place on his eleven operational flight. He later converted to flying Lancasters with 1656 CU begining on 21st October 1942 before returning to his parent unit on 10th November 1942. He completed his Tour and was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 20th April 1943, the citation reads.. "Sgt Ratten has displayed great efficiency and enthusiasm as a wireless operator throughout his operational tour. His courage and devotion to duty have always been an inspiration to his comrades." He received a commission on 29th December 1942 and later rose to F/O on 29th June 1943 and to F/Lt on 29th December 1944 having served at 1662 CU at Blyton he returned to 460 Squadron in March 1944 and flew a second Tour. He later served at Bomber Command HQ before returning to Australia. For completing a second Tour he was awarded the DFC on 19th January 1945, the citation reads.."F/O Ratten is now on his second tour of operational duty. He has participated in many sorties against such heavily defended targets as Berlin, Frankfurt and Essen and throughout all his operations has set an outstanding example of cool courage, initiative and devotion to duty. On numerous occasions his vigilant search and prompt instructions have assisted his pilot to combat attacked from enemy night fighters. On one occasion in April 1944 his aircraft was detailed for a mine-laying mission to Danzig Bay. While flying over enemy territory on the return flight this officer detected an enemy fighter at considerable range and, by his fine co-operation, the gunners were forewarned and a Messerschmitt 410 was damaged and driven off."
Robert Hood was awarded the DFM for service with 460 Squadron and Gazetted on 20th April 1943, the main part of his service being before receiving his commission. Having risen to F/O he was posted to 156 Squadron PFF with his new crew on 9th July 1943, he was killed on 3rd September 1943 flying in Lancaster JA915 which crashed on an air to air firing exercise near Diss, Norfolk. He is buried Cambridge City Cemetery and was twenty three years old. A memorial was erected in Kenninghall Church in September 2009 near to the crash site.
Francis Jackson later received a commission and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd April 1943. He was still serving with 460 Squadron when he was killed on 28th April 1944 on Ops in Lancaster LM523. He was twenty seven years old and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. He had married a Derby girl while stationed in England.