Lancaster W4327 damaged by flak, returned to Breighton airfield.
On the evening of 4th January 1943 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen, they left base around 17.30hrs. They did not see their bombs burst but the aircraft was hit by flak in the starboard inner engine which stopped for thirty seconds but restarted. There was a problem with the oxygen system which resulted in both the rear and mid upper gunners passing out but both recovered when the pilot flew at a lower height. The aircraft landed safely at Breighton before midnight.
Pilot - P/O Graeme Connell Keys RAAF (401459), of East Malvern, Melbourne, Australia.
Navigator - P/O Arthur William Frederick Quick RAAF (401567), of East Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia.
? - P/O I McWilliam RAAF.
? - Sgt L J Waters RAAF.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt C B/E Thompson RAAF.
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Colin Loudon RAF (10120). Born Glasgow, Scotland but emigrated to Merylnston, Victoria, Australia.
Air Gunner - "Sgt J Tarleton-Raiment" (probably Sgt James Tarlton-Rayment RAAF (408765).
Lancaster W4327 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was awaiting collection in October 1942. It was taken on charge immediately by 460 Squadron at Breighton on 24th October 1942. As a result of the damage sustained on 4th January 1943 minor Cat.A/FA damage resulted and it was repaired on site but the aircraft's AM78 movement card does not list the damage. On 25th January 1943 damage was found to the tail wheel mounting on landing at Breighton. This damage is probably the one recorded on the AM Form 78 as being Cat.Ac damage with the date being 3rd February 1943 (the date when the repair was begun). The AM78 states the Lancaster was returned to 460 Squadron use on 13th February 1943. On 30th March 1943 it was lost, Cat.E(m) damage recorded, when it failed to return from an operational flight to Berlin. It was shot down and crashed at Kloosterhaar, Holland with it's then crew of seven being killed. It was struck off charge the following day.
Graeme Keys was born 25th May 1912 in Balaclava, Victoria and enlisted in Melbourne. He was awarded the DFC for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943.
As F/Lt he was killed on 5th May 1944 piloting Mosquito DZ646 of 139 Squadron when the aircraft crashed near Bourn and is buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. He was thirty three years old and married to Thelma Keys of St.Kilda, Victoria.
Arthur Quick was born on 5th June 1910 in Melbourne. He was working with the Shell Oil Company in Borneo and returned to Australia to enlist in Melbourne into the RAAF in July 1940. After serving with 460 Squadron he flew Mosquitos. He was reported missing on 5th November 1943 while flying in Mosquito DK285 and serving in 1655 MTU, the aircraft was on a night cross-country training exercise and is believed to have crashed into the sea off the Isle of Man. he is quoted in his obituary as being a navigation instructor at the time of his death. His name is listed on the Runnymede Memorial.
James Tarlton Rayment was born in Melbourne on 22nd July 1909 and was almost certainly the same person as an obituary found on the internet details for a death in July 1957. It states that he was the son of Percy Tarlton Rayment; a well known naturalist, he was educated at Caulfield Grammar School and then at both Melbourne and Adelaide universities. He served in the RAAF in WW2 enlisting in Melbourne. Post-War he graduated in Medicine at Adelaide University and became a Flying Doctor. He died suddenly in 1957.