Wellington X3284 damaged by flak, returned to Dishforth airfield.
During the evening of 5th March 1943 the crew of this 426 Squadron aircraft were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb Essen and took off from Dishforth at 19.02hrs. The aircraft was slightly damaged by flak but the crew were able to make a safe return to Dishforth landing at 00.09hrs on 6th March 1943.
Pilot - Sgt George Raymond Baker RCAF (R/109386).
Naviagtor - Sgt Dexter Brand Coons RCAF (R/92573).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Max Zeavin RCAF (R/11112).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Lawrence Murphy RCAF (R/76910).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Donald Parker McLachlan RCAF (R/94736).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Dallas Laskey RCAF (J/22525).
On 9th / 10th March 1943 the first five named above were flying Wellington X3284 again when they failed to return from a mine laying flight. They are all commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Dallas Laskey was awarded the DFC for his actions on 4th / 5th April 1943 which saw him rescue one of his then crew's gunners from his turret but on their return flight the aircraft was ditched off Norfolk and he was one of only two survivors rescued from the dinghy. He was later made a poW and was involved in the famous Wooden Horse escape plot while in captivity, being one of the vaulters and later as the vault leader. He died in August 2012.
Wellington X3284 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate. It was received by 12 MU on 18th August 1941 and was taken on charge by 57 at Methwold on 25th December 1941. On 5th January 1942 it sustained Cat.B/FA damage in a flying accident. The aircraft was taken away and repair in works by Vickers at Weybridge. On 5th June 1942 it was received by 38 MU and then passed to 8 MU on 16h June 1942. The aircraft was placed in store until being taken on charge by 424 Squadron at Topcliffe arriving on 6th November 1942. It's AM Form 78 states that it received minor Cat.Ac/FA on 12th December 1942 but how this happened is not known. It was returned to 424 Squadron on 23rd January 1943. On 9th February 1943 it was taken on charge by 426 Squadron at Dalton. 426 Squadron first used it operationally on 16th February 1943. As a result of the damage on 6th March 1943 Cat.A/FB was the damage assessment which was repaired on site very quickly but the incident is not on it's AM78. Just three days later on 9th March 1943 it was lost on a mine laying operational flight with the loss of it's then six man crew (five of the same above). Cat.E(m) damage was recorded on the paperwork.