Wellington Z1572 damaged by night-fighter, landed at Catfoss airfield.
On the night of 5th / 6th March 1943 the crew of this 427 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen, they took off from Croft at 18.59hrs and were attacked by a night-fighter which damaged the starboard engine which caught fire. The pilot able to put the fire out but twenty miles off the English coast the propeller flew off the damaged engine. They were able to effect a safe landing at Catfoss airfield at 00.17hrs with the starboard airscrew missing. The crew are not thought to have been injured.
Pilot - F/Sgt George Pierre Cornelius Vandekerckhove RCAF (R/106393).
Navigator - Sgt William Alfred Williamson RCAF (R/16700?).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Ernest Moyler RAFVR (159683).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Alfred Dennis Rothwell RAFVR (1392245).
Air Gunner - Sgt John James McLean RCAF (R/124704).
Sadly he, Williamson, Rothwell and McLean failed to return from Ops to Berlin on 31st August 1943 when Halifax EB251 was shot down over Germany. Williamson and Rothwell survived and became PoW's but the others were killed and are now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Ernest Rothwell received a commission on 15th July 1943.
Sgt Leslie Moyler was awarded an immediate Distinguished Flying Medal, Gazetted on 10th September 1943 but sadly he had been killed three days earlier. The recommendation for his DFM (as located by Hugh Halliday) states.. "Sergeant Moyler was the Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of a Halifax aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim on the night of 9th / 10th August 1943. After bombing, the aircraft was attacked and severely damaged by a night fighter, Sergeant Moyler being wounded in the shoulder. Despite his injury, he nevertheless carried on with his normal duties, kept an exceptionally accurate W/T log and transmitted an emergency signal, although wounded. He eventually parachuted to safety with the remainder of the crew. Sergeant Moyler showed commendable courage and devotion to duty in spite of physical suffering."
Leslie Moyler (and his then pilot William Biggs DFM) was killed flying with them on 7th September 1943 when Halifax LK628 was shot down by a night fighter on Ops to Munich. He was twenty two years old and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
George Vandekerckhove was born in 1917 in Neuville Calvados, France but was living in Stoney Mountain, Manitoba, Canada with his father when he enlisted into the RCAF in Winnipeg in April 1941. He was awarded the DFC for service with 427 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th August 1943. The citation mentions the incident in March 1943 and reads.."This officer has successfully completed a number of operational bombing flights during which he displayed courage of the highest order. An exceptionally good captain, he has invariably pressed home his attacks with vigour and his success has been demonstrated by the photographs he has secured. In March 1943, this officer was captain of an aircraft detailed for an attack on Essen. Nearing the target area the aircraft was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire but he flew safely back to this country, his rear gunner damaging a Junkers 88 on the return flight. On another occasion, Pilot Officer Vandekerckhove was testing an aircraft at 10,000 feet when the dinghy broke loose and severely damaged the tail of the plane. Ordering his crew to leave the aircraft by parachute, he regained control and made a successful landing in hazardous circumstances. This officer has always shown excellent judgement and superb airmanship." Credit to Hugh Halliday for RCAF awards research.
Leslie Moyler was flying in 427 Squadron Halifax EB247 on Ops to Mannheim with a different crew on 9th / 10th August 1943 when the aircraft was badly damaged by a night-fighter. The rear gunner shot down the attacking aircraft but the Halifax was badly damaged and set on fire and Sgt Moyler had sustained injuries in the attack. The Halifax was flown back to England and was then abandoned. The aircraft went on to crash near Hartford Bridge, Hertfordshire but all on board survived. For their efforts in bringing the aircraft back to England the pilot (F/Sgt William Biggs), flight engineer (Sgt Jack Elliott) and Sgt Leslie Moyler were awarded DFMs. The citation was a joint one and stated.. "One night in August 1943 these airmen were captain, flight engineer and wireless operator/air gunner respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack Mannheim. Shortly after bombing the target the aircraft was attacked by fighter. Although the enemy aircraft was eventually shot down, the bomber sustained extensive damage. A fire in one of the wings but Sergeant Elliott, after making an aperture in the side of fuselage with an axe, was able to put out the flames with an extinguished. The aircraft became exceedingly difficult to control, requiring almost superhuman efforts to maintain a level flight. Despite this, Flight Sergeant Biggs battled on to reach this country. The aircraft was so badly crippled, however, that a landing could not be effected, but the crew were able to leave the bomber by parachute. Flight Sergeant Biggs displayed great courage and a fine fighting spirit throughout, while Sergeants Elliott and Moyler, though the latter was wounded, displayed great devotion to duty and rendered valuable assistance."
Wellington Z1572 was built to contract B.97287/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in November 1941. It was received by 48 MU on 7th January 1942 and was taken on charge by 115 Squadron at Marham on 1st April 1942. It was transferred to 75 Squadron at Mildenhall on 2nd April 1942. On 14th April 1942 it is listed as having sustained Cat.A battle damage which was repaired on site and it was returned to 75 Squadron on 2nd May 1942. It was used on Ops on 14th April 1942 although the unit records do not list any damage occurring. On 13th May 1942 it was transferred to 419 Squadron at Mildenhall. On 23rd July 1942 it burst a tyre on take off for an operational flight, on landing the port propeller struck the ground and the engine sustained damage. Cat.A(c)/FA was the daamge assessment which saw it again repaired on site,w ith repair beginning on 27th July 1942. It was returned to 419 Squadron on 5th September 1942. The aircraft was transferred to 427 Squadron at Croft on 9th November 1942 soon after the unit formed. As a result of damage sustained on 6th March 1943 Cat.A(c)/FB damage would have been the assessment and it was repaired on site but no mention of this features on it's AM78. The aircraft was taken on charge by 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford on 2nd April 1943. It received minor damage three times with 16 O.T.U.. On 31st December 1944 it was received by 8 M.U. and was placed in MU storage. It was struck off charge on 30th April 1945. The photograph of the aircraft shown above was when it was on charge with 419 Squadron.