Lancaster W4985 damaged by flak, returned to Breighton airfield.
On the night of 13th / 14th May 1943 the crew of this 460 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Bochum and took off from Breighton airfield at 00.01hrs. The aircraft attacked the target area on the Pathfinder flares at 02.35hrs but the port outer engine was damaged by flak. The crew were able to make a safe return to Breighton on three engines and land there at 05.20hrs. This incident possibly occurred on this crew's first operational flight.
Pilot - Sgt Gordon James Sharpe RAAF (414266).
Navigator - Sgt Wilfred Cyril Gordon RAAF (413986), of Raleigh, New South Wales, Australia.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Charles William Hudson RAAF (414353).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J Wilson.
Flight Engineer - Sgt W M Mathie / Mathis.
Air Gunner - Sgt Lionel James Brown RAAF (413536), of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Air Gunner - Sgt Mervyn Edgar Hamilton RAAF (414232), of Bulimba, Queensland, Australia.
Mervyn Hamilton was born in Brisbane on 10th January 1922 and enlisted into the RAAF there in August 1941. After basic training in Australia he arrived in England in August 1942 and formed with Gordon Sharpe at 27 OTU, they later trained at 1662 HCU before posting in 460 Squadron in early May 1943. He was granted a commission as P/O on 28th July 1943 and completed his Tour with 460 Squadron in October 1943 later serving as a gunnery instructor for a time with 27 OTU before returning to Operations with 463 Squadron in August 1944. On 15th August 1944 he was flying as rear gunner in Lancaster LL844 on Ops to bomb the airfield at Gilze Rijen, Holland when the aircraft was hit from above by falling bombs just after they had released their bombs. One of the falling bombs struck the rear turret of LL844 and it broke off carrying with it F/O Hamilton. The aircraft completed the flight and landed safely but F/O Hamilton was never found and recorded as missing presumed killed. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty two years old.
Charles Hudson was born on 21st April 1918 in Hartlepool, England but moved to Australia with his family when he was young. He enlisted into the RAAF in Brisbane on 13th September 1941. He served at 460 Squadron from early May 1943 until October 1943 and received his commission on 21st July 1944 to the rank of P/O. He did not fly a second Tour after 460 Squadron but remained in the UK until April 1946 until sailing home. He left the RAAF in June 1946.
Gordon Sharpe was born in Lismore, New South Wales in November 1921 and enlisted into the RAAF in Brisbane. He was awarded the DFC for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 10th December 1943.
Wilfred Gordon was born at Bonville Creek, New South Wales on 13th October 1916 and enlisted into the RAAF in October 1941. He was awarded the DFC for service with 460 Squadron, Gazetted on 10th December 1943. He flew as navigator on Lancaster W4783 on the flight and then Tour of Australia in 1944/1945. He remained in the RAAF until 1948 and died in 1988.
Lionel Brown was born on 13th August 1918 in Scone, New South Wales and enlisted into the RAAF on 12th September 1941 in Sydney. He arrived at 460 Squadron and completed his tour in October 1943. Having received his commission in March 1944 he returned to Australia and served with 200 Flight on Liberators. F/O Brown died 17th May 1945 in Timor while flying in Liberator A72-159 and is buried in Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia. He was twenty six years old.