Halifax NA582 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On 5th August 1944 a number of 415 Squadron aircraft were tasked with attacking rocket launch sites at St.Leu D'Esserant as part of a daylight operational order. Halifax NA583 took off from East Moor at 11.10hrs and were over the target at 13.17hrs from around 15,000 feet. This aircraft received minor flak damage during the course of the flight but returned safely to East Moor and landed without further incident at 15.50hrs.
Pilot - F/O C I Gue RCAF (J/25831).
Flight Engineer - F/Sgt Albert I Simpson RAFVR (1389175).
Navigator - F/O Selby James Sinclair RCAF (J/28912).
Bomb Aimer - F/O A V Horie RCAF (J/28494).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - WO A P McQueen RCAF (R/286798).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt J O Scott RCAF (R/288657).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt R Bell RCAF (R/214766).
P/O "Chuck" Gue and his crew commenced Halifax ops with 415 Squadron on 28th July 1944 having earlier flown with another RCAF Squadron.
Selby Sinclair was born in Toronto in 1912 but was living in Montreal when he enlisted there in July 1942. He was recommended for the DFC for service with 415 Squadron on 21st December 1944 when he had completed thirty three operational flights and the notification of his award appeared in the London Gazette on 17th April 1945. He was not presented with the DFC until 25th November 1949 in Montreal. There was no citation as such but the recomendation stated that.."As navigator he has completed a tour involving many heavily defended German targets. Highly skilled, he has directed his aircraft to the target and avoided trouble. Always calm and courageous on operations, he has also been most co-operative in assisting ground training. A good leader and a fine officer. Strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)."
Albert Simpson flew with 419 Squadron earlier in 1944.
Halifax NA582 was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Ltd at Stockport and was initially taken on charge as new by 420 Squadron at Tholthorpe on 14th July 1944. The date it was taken on charge by 415 Squadron at East Moor is not given on the aircraft's AM Form 78. It sustained flak damage on 5th August 1944 and Cat.A/FB damage would probably have been the damage assessment. A repair on site would have been made with it completed by 7th August 1944. It was again damaged by flak on 11th September 1944, Cat.A/FB would have been the damage assessment that then saw a repair on site at East Moor. On 15th October 1944 the aircraft was returning from Ops to Duisburg and was flying in the circuit of East Moor airfield when it crashed near Stillington. The crash saw the aircraft badly damaged, Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge on 26th October 1944.