Halifax LK765 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On 5th August 1944 415 Squadron aircraft were tasked with attacking rocket launch sites at St.Leu D'Esserant during the day. This aircraft took off from East Moor at 10.55hrs, the crew released their bomb load from 15,000 feet at 13.15hrs and during the course of the flight was damaged by flak to the tail. The crew were able to land safely at East Moor airfield at 15.50hrs.
Pilot - F/Lt Henry Gordon Barnes RCAF (J/7614).
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Rome RAFVR (1822216).
Navigator - F/O J D Moulden RCAF (J/28701).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Wesley Alexaner MacLeod RCAF (R/161894).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - W/O Jospeh Edward Lawrence Dubois RCAF (R/81634).
Air Gunner - Sgt L Ballantyne RCAF (R/211166).
Air Gunner - Sgt S J Bayerle RCAF (R/203574).
F/Lt Barnes flew thirty two operational flights with 415 Squadron between 1st August and 18th November 1944. Nothing more is currently known about him although he must have flown with other units.
Wesley MacLeod was later commissioned and completed thirty two operational flights, he was awarded the DFC for service with 415 Squadron. I thank Mr James Weatherdon, son-in-law of Wesley MacLeod for his contact and the extra information he was able to provide this account. Wesley was born in Kinross, Prince Edward Island in 1917 where he was working as a teacher until he enlisted in Ottawa in May 1942 and was commission in September 1944. His DFC appeared in the London Gazette on 27th March 1945. Research by Hugh Halliday has found the recommendation for the award and this reads.. "Warrant Officer MacLeod has completed a notable tour during which he has taken part in several attacks on the most heavily defended enemy targets including Kiel, Wanne Eickel, Essen and Cologne. He is a most determined and gallant member of aircraft crew and his successes are an excellent testimony to the accuracy of his bombing. His conduct at all times has been exemplary." The DFC was presented to him on 4th September 1945 and his Tour was carried out between 1st August 1944 and 18th November 1944, flying thirty two operational flights lasting just short of 160 hours flying time.
P/O Joseph Dubois RCAF (J/88326) was killed on 17th December 1944 when Halifax MZ538 of 425 Squadron crashed near Alne, Yorkshire shortly after take off for ops to Duisburg. He is buried in Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. His loss is detailed in more detail on my webpage for that incident.
Halifax LK765 was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Co.Ltd. at Stockport and was taken on charge as new by 432 Squadron at East Moor on 16th February 1944. On 24th February 1944 the tail wheel assembly broke on landing at East Moor which saw a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment. The aircraft was repaired on site and it was returned to 432 Squadron on 15th March 1944. 432 Squadron used the aircraft until July 1944 when it appears to have been loaned to 415 Squadron, also at East Moor. Following a flak incident on 5th August 1944 it then appears to have had a Cat.A/FB damage assessment which required a repair on site by a team from Handley Page. Had it received an more serious damage the damage assessment would probably have been logged on the AM Form 78 and it is not. The aircraft was servicable on 18th August 1944 and two days later was officially transferred to 415 Squadron. It was then twice slightly damaged by flak on 11th September 1944 and on 12th September 1944, each incident it only suffered very minor Cat.A/FB damage and neither was recorded on the AM Form 78. On 1st October 1944 it's Form AM78 records it as having sustained minor Cat.Ac/FB damage which was downgraded to Re-Cat.A the following day and also returned to 415 Squadron that day. Unfortunately the 415 Squadron orb scribe omits to list any aircraft used operationally during September 1944 by serial number so whether the damage was battle damage related it is not yet known. The aircraft was transferred to 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton on 3rd November 1944 and then to 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit at Dishforth on 29th November 1944. This unit disbanded on 6th April 1945 and the aircraft was flown into long term storage at 45 M.U. on 21st April 1945 where it remained until being struck off charge on 21st December 1946 when it was scrapped.