Halifax MZ690 (believed) damaged by flak, landed at East Moor airfield.
During the morning of 30th September 1944 this 415 Squadron aircraft took off from East Moor at 09.52hrs to bomb Sterkrade. The crew released the bomb load at 12.21hrs from 19,500 feet and landed safely at East Moor at 14.50hrs. The aircraft is believed to have been holed four times by flak but I cannot recall where this damage information was initially found prior to updating this webpage in September 2021. It is not in the squadron records.
Pilot - F/O Donald John Stewart RCAF (J/37121).
Flight Engineer - Sgt A T Munford RAFVR (1489830).
Navigator - F/O Jack V Huddart RCAF (J/38339).
Bomb Aimer - P/O R A Somers RCAF (J/37833).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt A A Greaves RCAF (R/134516).
Air Gunner - Sgt William McVean RCAF (R/251152).
Air Gunner - Sgt Murray Fleming RCAF (R/198413).
Dorsal Gunner - W/O F E Fry RCAF (R/129752).
Mike Washook's body was taken up to Yorkshire and buried alongside his Countrymen at Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery. He never flew with his own crew on Ops.
Bill McVean recorded his Wartime memories for the Dominion Institute Digital Archive in the mid-2000's, he states that the mid under gunner position was given to a newly arrived gunner on occasions. On 12th October 1944 they had with them for his first trip in this position P/O Michael Washook RCAF (J/94448), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The pilot Don Stewart also gave an account of the trip on 12th October 1944 to a web-forum in the mid-2000's. He states that "we flew 'MZ690' on seven occasions from September 17 to October 12, 1944. On the October twelveth a daylight sortie to Wanne Eickel, a synthetic oil plant, we were hit with predicted flak on our bombing run and Mike Washook, our mid-under gunner was hit in the back at that time. An ambulance met us when we landed at Witchford and it immediately took Mike to the Ely hospital but Mike died the next day. An engineer at the Witchford station examined our aircraft for damage and it was found that the main spar was severely damaged and I was advised not to make any steep turns going back to base because the main spar was weakened. The aircraft was removed from the squadron and a brand new replacement with the manufacturer's number NR122 was received and lettered "X-xray". We flew in this aircraft nine times between November 21, 1944 and January 16, 1945. I do not know what happened to NR122 but it too was replaced (it either crashed or was shot down while we were on leave between January 31st and February 8th (I was married to Ivy on February 1, 1945). The replacement was NR127 and it too was lettered "X-xray" and we flew seven sorties in it between February 13 and February 27, 1945, our final sortie. We flew in "X-xray" a total of twenty three times, to various targets."
He also stated the dates and letters of other aircraft that he flew with 415 Squadron were : Sept/44 "L", Oct.6/44 "M", Oct.16/44 "Q", Nov.4/44 "H", Nov.27/44 "P", Nov.30/44 "S", Dec.2/44 "Q", Dec.6/44 "U", Jan.2/45 "M", Jan.28/45 "Z", Feb.20/45 "O". This made a total of eleven operational flights in these other aircraft. Also of interest and something that is rarely learnt, he mentioned that "two of which were clunkers. The notation in my log book regarding "S - Sugar" on Nov.30/44 was "aircraft should be scrapped" and on Dec.2/44 regarding "Q- Queen", "aircraft worse than S-sugar"!
Donald Stewart was born in 1922 and worked as a bookkeeper before he enlisted in Montreal in June 1942. He later receiving a commission in October 1943. He was awarded the DFC on 10th May 1945 for his actions with 415 Squadron. He was recommended for this on 20th January 1945 and at the time had completed twenty four operatioanal flights. He was presented with the DFC in Montreal in November 1949. The recommendation for the DFC reads.."As pilot and captain, Flying Officer Stewart has completed a large number of sorties against dangerous and difficult targets. He has invariably displayed a high degree of skill, courage and resolution, qualities which have on more than one occasion enabled him to complete his mission in the face of heavy odds. He is an ideal leader whose example at all times has been an inspiration to other squadron personnel."
Murray Fleming developed pleurisy after the crew's fourteenth operational flight he was posted back to Canada. His position in the crew was taken by Morley Orbach.
Jack Huddart returned to Canada after the War and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1949. He became a member of the Professional Engineers Association. Retiring as head of exploration for Algoma Steel, in Sault Ste.Marie, in 1982. He died on 15th December 2002, aged 80.