Halifax MZ586 at Wombleton airfield.
On the night of 21st / 22nd November 1944 the crew of this 415 Squadron aircraft were undertaking an operational flight to bomb Castrop-Rauxel and are believed to have bombed the target area successfully. The crew of the aircraft spotted an enemy aircraft flying on the port side of them probably about to make an attack. The enemy fighter opened fire on the Halifax, the bomber pilot took evasive action and the mid upper gunner of the Halifax returned fire from around 300 yards with strikes witnessed on the engine and nose of the fighter. The enemy aircraft dived towards the ground and the flight engineer reported seeing an explosion on the ground where the fighter was last seen diving. It was later claimed by the Halifax crew as probably being destroyed. On their return to Yorkshire they and many of 415 and 432 Squadron aircraft made landings at Wombleton airfield. The port outer engine of this aircraft is believed to have caught fire just prior to landing or just after landing at Wombleton and it sustained slight damage. The 415 Squadron ORB does not mention any damage.
Pilot - F/O J L Britt RCAF (J/85060).
Navigator - P/O J C Pape RCAF (J/90603).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Ronald Blau RAFVR (185499).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O A Gray RCAF (J/29873).
Mid Upper Gunner - P/O D G Barrett RCAF (J/90099).
Rear Gunner - P/O W Bridle RCAF (J/90100).
Flight Engineer - P/O George Ramsbottom RAFVR (186763).
Under Gunner - Sgt H M O'Connor RCAF (R/98689).
George Ramsbottom received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 5th October 1944, rising to F/O on 5th April 1945. In 1951 he transferred to the RAF but nothing more is known about him after this date.
Ronald Blau received his commission on 11th September 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 11th March 1945. He remained in the RAFVR post-War and rose to F/Lt on 11th March 1948. He relinquished his commission on appointment to the RAF on 7th May 1951 and having dropped a rank he rose again to F/Lt on 26th April 1953. He retired on 28th November 1961.
P/O Barrett's combat report for this incident has been located in the National Archives and used in compiling this webpage. The report also states that he trained at No.9 B&G School, 23 OTU and 1659 HCU before posting to 415 Squadron. The Rear Gunner, P/O Brindle, trained at the same units.
Sgt O'Connor appears to have been a spare air gunner with 415 Squadron and was soon posted to 420 Squadron. On 5th March 1945 he survived the serious accident to Halifax NA184 near Dishforth which saw many of his then crew killed. He sustained injuries and probably never flew again in the War.
Many of this crew had earlier served with 420 Squadron. On 16th June 1944 Sgt Britt was taking off from Linton on Ouse in Halifax LL550 for a ferry flight but the aircraft would not pick up speed, Sgt Britt raised the undercarriage to avoid running into the overshoot area but the aircraft crashed and was badly damaged. One of his then crew sustained injuries.