Halifax W7879 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On the evening of the 21st January 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational mine laying flight, this aircraft took off from Pocklington airfield at 17.25hrs. The aircraft appears to have received minor damage by flak fired from a flak ship in the starboard outer engine, they returned to base and landed at Pocklington at 22.12hrs. At the time in the war 102 Squadron Halifaxes carried a crew of seven but at that time they carried two pilots and a combined navigator / bomb aimer.
Pilot - Sgt Michael Gerrard Gibbons RAFVR (1500187).
Navigator / Bomb Aimer - P/O F E Jackson.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O Leonard James Dowdall RAFVR (126836).
Air Gunner - Sgt Dennis Stanley Richings RAFVR (1183680).
Air Gunner - Sgt John William Hunt RAFVR (615956).
Flight Engineer? - Sgt John Ninian RAF (572063).
Second Pilot - Sgt John Leslie Wilson RAFVR (658464).
On 26th February 1943 Gibbons, Dowdall, Richings, Hunt and Wilson were flying Halifax HR669 on Ops to Cologne when the aircraft crashed in the target area. All were killed. The bodies of all but Sgt Wilson were found and identified and are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Sgt Wilson is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Further details surrounding their loss are to be found on the superb "102ceylonsquadron.co.uk" website.
Halifax W7879 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge as new on 14th October 1942 by 76 Squadron at Linton on Ouse. On 31st October 1942 it was transferred to 102 Squadron at Pocklington. As a result of minor battle damage on 21st January 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On 11th February 1943 it crashed near North Dalton soon after taking off for an operational flight. Six members of the seven crew were killed. Cat.E/FB damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on the same date.
John Ninian received a commission on 3rd October 1943. He was later posted to 77 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 6th November 1945. In 1954 he was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List and remained in the RAF until 1972.