Halifax MZ949 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On 14th October 1944 415 Squadron were instructed supply aircraft for two raids on Duisburg, one during the day and the second overnight. 415 Squadron supplied seventeen for the first and twenty for the second. Halifax MZ949 took part in the first leaving East Moor at around 06.30hrs and received flak damage to the starboard wing. The crew returned to base, landing at 11.13hrs and it was repaired and patched up and used again that night with a different crew.
Pilot - S/Ldr Samuel Roy Frankling RCAF (J/5046).
Flight Engineer - P/O Robert Anderson Duff RAFVR (183063).
Navigator - F/O T J (Gordon?) Dingwall RCAF (J/24621).
Bomb Aimer - P/O Mike Jakubiec RCAF (J88970).
Air Gunner - P/O J D St.Godard RCAF (J/86664).
Air Gunner - P/O John Nicholson Thompson RAF (54311).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - P/O Reginald William Brown RAFVR (183614).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt D K Snell RCAF (R/266233).
P/O St.Goddard was posted from 431 Squadron to 415 Squadron on 18th September 1944. Frankling, Dingwall, Jakubiec and Brown had earlier flown with 408 Squadron in 1944.
Sam Frankling was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in May 1919. He was working as a mill operator and miner in the Muskoka area of Ontario when he enlisted in the RCAF at Toronto in September 1940. He may also have been studying or have already studied medicine at Saskatoon University before he enlisted. After enlisting into the RCAF he married in Canada in August 1941 and after completing basic training in Canada he was posted to England to continue his training. He passed through 1666 HCU at Wombleton before posting to 408 Squadron. For service with 408 Squadron he was recommended for an immediate DFC on 23rd August 1944 when he had flown 31 operational flights, the recommendation reads.."Squadron Leader Frankling has completed a very large number of sorties against some of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. Throughout his tour, he has displayed a fine offensive spirit, pressing home all his attacks with coolness and great determination no matter how heavy were the defences encountered. On nearly all his sorties he brought back pictures of the actual aiming point attacked and he has proven conclusively to all that as an operational pilot he is exceptional. As a Flight Commander on this squadron, Squadron Leader Frankling has imparted to those serving under him much of his own operational skill and keenness, and by his untiring efforts, has won the praise of all in any way connected with him." Notification that he had been granted the DFC appeared in the London Gazette of 14th November 1944 but by that date he had served with 415 Squadron and the incident recorded above had already occurred. He may have returned to Canada before the end of the War as he appears to have been posted from 415 Squadron to "R-Depot" later in October 1944. He left the RCAF in July 1945 to continue his studies, receiving a B.A. degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1947 and in 1949 a degree in Medicine at the University of Toronto. In all he underwent twelve years of medical training. He worked for many years at Mississauga Hospital in Ontario and died in April 2011 in Mississauga.
John Thompson was later awarded the DFC for service with 415 Squadron, Gazetted on 27th October 1943. Hugh Halliday has located the following account which possibly relates to this incident or one on 27th August 1944. "Now on his second tour of operational duty, this officer has taken part in many operational sorties as an air gunner. He has attacked a wide variety of targets and has at all times displayed exceptional skill and fortitude under fire. On a recent sortie, his aircraft was attacked and badly damaged by enemy night fighters. Although suffering from lack of oxygen, the supply of which had been damaged, he resolutely gave his pilot skilful evasive instruction and continued to engage the enemy with the one remaining serviceable gun. His efficiency and determination are highly commendable."