Halifax MZ947 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the 12th October 1944 the crew of this 415 Squadron aircraft was undertaking a daylight operational flight to bomb a target at Wanne Eickel when it sustained minor flak damage. The pilot was able to make a return to Yorkshire and landed safely at East Moor at around midday. Damage was sustained in both wings and the starboard fuselage. The aircraft was repaired.
Pilot - F/O J L Britt RCAF (J/85060).
Flight Engineer - F/Sgt George Ramsbottom RAFVR (1589010).
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 - F/Sgt D G Barrett RCAF (R/207756).
Rear Gunner - F/Sgt W Bridle RCAF (R/190664).
Dorsal Gunner - Sgt James Thomas Clarke RCAF (R/212923).
Many of this crew had earlier served with 420 Squadron. On 16th June 1944 Britt, Ramsbottom, Barrett and Bridle were 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. Having been posted to 415 Squadron in the months in between, on 3rd September 1944 this crew were flying on Ops to bomb the Luftwaffe airfield at Volkel when their aircraft was hit by flak and the bomb doors were damaged. Because of poor weather over Yorkshire they were diverted to land at Sheppard's Grove. On 21st / 22nd November 1944 they were flying Halifax MZ586 on Ops to bomb the oil refinery at Castrop-Rauxel. The aircraft was attacked by a Me109 and returned fire. The Me109 was seen to be hit and dive steeply and it was later claimed as probably destroyed. On their return to Yorkshire F/O Britt landed at Wombleton but the port outer engine caught fire.
Ronald Blau received a commission on 11th September 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and 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 rose again to F/Lt on 26th April 1953. He retired on 28th November 1961.
George Ramsbottom received a 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.