Wellington Z1727 damaged by flak, returned to Topcliffe airfield.
On the night of 5th / 6th March 1943 the crew of this 428 Squadron Wellington were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Essen. Having taken off from Dalton at 19.04hrs the aircraft was hit by a flak burst over the target area which created a three feet wide hole in the fuselage in the cockpit area. The crew were able to make a safe return to the UK and landed at Topcliffe airfield at 00.01hrs.
Pilot - Sgt Kingdon Roger Knapp RCAF (R/?).
Navigator - Sgt Norman Lawrence Magnusson RCAF (R/110974).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Gordon Barnholden RCAF (R/102462).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Bertram Arthur Nicholls RAFVR (942990).
Air Gunner - Sgt J G or C W Pilfold RCAF (R/103676).
? - Sgt M Evans.
Norman Magnusson was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 23rd March 1945.
Gordon Barnholden was involved in a serious flying accident while training with No.2 Bombing and Gunnery School in March / April 1942, for his actions he was Commended for Valuable Serice (as per Canadian Gazette of 2nd March 1943). Hugh Halliday's superb research has located the following.. "While on a gunnery exercise a Fairey Battle aircraft caught fire and force landed. The pilot and one of the gunners were rendered unconscious. The other gunner, Sergeant Barnholden, regardless of any danger to himself, with the assistance of an ambulance driver, pulled the pilot clear and both Sergeant Barnholden and the ambulance driver then went back into the burning aircraft and rescued the other gunner."
Bertram Nicholls was awarded the DFM for service with 428 Squadron, Gazetted on 9th July 1943 for flying two operational tours. The first was in Hampdens at a currently unknown squadron. The second was with 428 Squadron
Wellington Z1727 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in April 1942. It was received by 48 MU at Harwarden on 11th May 1942. The aircraft was initially taken on charge by 419 Squadron at Mildenhall on 4th August 1942 and then tranferred to 156 Squadron at Warboys three days later. It required a repair on site doing on 12th August 1942 and was returned to 156 Squadron on 19th September 1942. It then sustained battle damage to minor Cat.AC/FB status on 8th November 1942 and was again repaired on site. On 17th January 1943 it was transferred to 428 Squadron at Dalton. 428 Squadron first used it operationally on 4th February 1943 coded "-K". As a result of the damage on 6th March 1943 minor Cat.A(c)/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site (whether at Topcliffe where it landed or back at Dalton after a short transit flight). 428 Squadron next used it operationally on 12th March 1943 and this was the final time they did. Ten days later it had been replaced as "-K" by Wellington HE727. It was taken on charge by 1485 (B) G.Flight at Skellingthorpe on 20th March 1943. Later in 1943 it had a spell with 82 O.T.U. at Ossington before returning the 1485 (B) G.Flt. who had moved to Syerston. On 26th February 1944 this Flight disbanded so the aircraft had a short spell of MU storage before being taken on charge by 24 OTU at Honeybourne on 9th May 1944. It next appears on charge with 30 OTU at Gamston in March 1945. In April 1945 it was received by 48 MU and placed in MU store pending disposal. It was struck off charge on 4th June 1947.
Kingdon Knapp was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA in May 1916. He enlisted into the RCAF in June 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and after training was posted to 428 Squadron. For service with them he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th July 1943, the citation for the award reads.. "On one occasion while engaged in mine-laying the aircraft in which Pilot Officer Knapp was flying was engaged by anti-aircraft fire and searchlights. The pilot was temporarily blinded and the aircraft struck the water, damaging the port propeller and engine. Displaying great skill and fine airmanship, Pilot Officer Knapp regained control and flew the aircraft back to this country where a successful landing was made. Throughout his operational tour this officer has displayed courage and coolness of a very high order, always pressing home his attacks with the greatest determination in the face of intense opposition. He possesses great ability and presence of mind." He later transferred to the USAAF (service no:0885977) and flew USAAF crewed Mosquitos and with the 856th Bomber Squadron flying Liberators. He was still serving in the USAF as a pilot when he died on 31st January 1954 in Korea. He was the pilot of B26 44-35277 on an operational flight when the aircraft failed to return and he is listed as missing in action.