Halifax W7919 damaged by flak, returned to Pocklington airfield.
On 11th February 1943 this 102 Squadron aircraft took off from Pocklington airfield at 18.07hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Wilhelmshaven. They bombed the target area from 13,000 feet through thick cloud onto sky markers placed by the pathfinding force. During the course of the evening the aircraft received minor flak damage to the starboard side of the fuselage but this did not prevent the crew from making a safe return to based and they landed at Pocklington airfield at 23.12hrs.
Pilot - F/Sgt John Richard McCormack RNZAF (NZ.412004).
? - Sgt William Thraves Lambert RAF (656228).
? - Sgt J A Lewis.
? - Sgt B Lee.
? - Sgt T W/M Holder. (Probably Sgt Thomas Malcolm Holder RAFVR (1026150)).
? - Sgt N Beale. (Probably Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Arthur Beale RAFVR (751620)).
? - Sgt D A Field.
John McCormack had flown with 102 Squadron in late 1942 / early 1943 and for his service he was awared the DFC, Gazetted on 13th July 1943. The citation for his DFC reads.. "A high proportion of the sorties which this officer has completed with success have been attacks on heavily defended targets such as Berlin, Essen, Hamburg, and Munich. P/O McCormack's fine leadeiship has been largely responsible for the success of his crew, which has never failed to complete a sortie successfully and has frequently secured outstanding photographs." He instructed at 1663 HCU for eighteen months following his time with 102 Squadron and later returned to operational flying with 608 Squadron in 1944. he survived the War.
Halifax W7919 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 6th November 1942. It was first used operationally on 18th November 1942. As a result of the battle damage sustained on 11th February 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site. On 27th February 1943 it failed to return from Ops to Cologne when it crashed in the target area. Cat.E(m) damage was recorded and the aircraft was struck off charge. The then crew of seven were sadly all killed.