Lancaster DS729 damaged by enemy aircraft, landed at Linton on Ouse airfield.
During the early hours of 3rd January 1944 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse airfield at 00.30hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Berlin. The crew released their bomb load from 19,000 feet over the marked target area at 02.56hrs. The aircraft was then attacked by a Junkers Ju88 just after reaching the target area and the Lancaster received damage to the rear turret, the port outer engine nacelle (with part of the cowling being blown off) and the bomb doors were damaged. The air speed indicator also stopped working. The Lancaster's gunners returned fire and shot down the Ju88. The crew were able to make the return flight back to Linton on Ouse where the aircraft landed at 07.07hrs.
Other websites claim this aircraft to have ground looped on return from an operational flight on 7th January 1944. I cannot find any evidence of this in the source records. A ground looping would have resulted in a least Cat.Ac damage and there is no AM Form 1180 accident card for an incident involving DS729 on this date. Add to that 408 Squadron did not fly operationally on this date. Lancaster DS729 was repaired and flown operationally again on the night of 14th / 15th January 1944. A ground looping a week earlier would seem too short a time period to have it repaired had this happened. But clearly the incident claimed to have been on 7th January 1944 won't be an invented claim so must have been researched from somewhere.
Pilot - P/O Wallace George Phillips RCAF (J/19005).
Navigator - Sgt Ernest Henry Wood RCAF (J/19016).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt A M Porten RCAF (R/147654).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J H Rogers.
Air Gunner - Sgt G Currie RCAF (R/219970).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Joseph Jean Bapiste Gaston LaPierre RCAF (R/148486).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Wilfred Wilson RAFVR (1582657).
Gaston LaPierre was awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th June 1944. This date was also the date he failed to return from an operational flight in Lancaster DS726 but he managed to evade capture. He was the repatriated by the end of 1944 and served in the RCAF until 1956. The citation for his award makes mention of the part he played on 3rd January 1944, it states that "As air gunner, Warrant Officer Lapierre has completed a large number of sorties, including nine attacks on Berlin. On one occasion, after successfully bombing the German capital, Warrant Officer Lapierre sighted a fighter closing in. He promptly gave his pilot the necessary evading directions but the bomber was struck by a burst of machine gun fire. His turret was damaged and he was deprived of the use of the inter-communication system. The lead of his oxygen supply was also severed. Nevertheless, this resolute gunner finally drove off the attacker. Displaying exceptional devotion to duty he manned his post throughout the remainder of the flight despite the lack of oxygen. He set an example of a high order."
Wallace Phillips had earlier served in the Canadian Navy. He later remustered for RCAF service. He was awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th May 1944. He recorded recollections of his RCAF service which is available on "www.thememoryproject.com".
Ernest Wood baled out of Halifax JD174 over the North York Moors on 14th June 1943. He was also awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, Gazetted on 24th May 1944.