Halifax NA583 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 10.50hrs and were over the target at 13.15hrs from around 15,500 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 15.40hrs.
Pilot - F/O Lloyd Wilson Patten RCAF (J/25838).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ronald Watson RAFVR (1819472).
Navigator - F/O Peter Provias RCAF (J/28973).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Robert Hill RCAF (R/187719).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Gordon Ford RCAF (R/183552).
Air Gunner - Sgt Adam Kell RCAF (R/205154).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward B Turner RCAF (R/215595).
A fantastic composite photograph of the Patten crew, from left to right - Adam Kell, Ted Turner, Peter Provias, Lloyd Patten, Ron Watson, Bob Hill, Gordon Ford.
Halifax NA583 was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Ltd at Stockport and was taken on charge by 420 Squadron at Tholthorpe on 16th July 1944. It was immediately transferred to 415 Squadron at East Moor sustained two flak incidents in August 1944, one on 5th August 1944 with Cat.A/FB damage being the likely assessment and the other on 15th August 1944 that saw a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment. The repair for the second was made on site at East Moor with it complete by 28th August 1944. On 14th October 1944 it was again slightly damaged on Ops but when a 1,000 lb bomb fell through the bomb doors. Cat.A/Fb damage would again have been the damage assessment with a repair on site carried out. On 2nd November 1944 it failed to return from Dusseldorf. Cat.Em damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 15th November 1944.
Lloyd Patten was born in 1919 in Benito, Manitoba, Canada and enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg in February 1942 having previously served in the Winnipeg Rifles. He served with 415 Squadron in Coastal Command and also in Bomber Command. He was awarded a DFC for the whole service with 415 Squadron. The recommendation for his DFC was dated 17th September 1944 and stated he had flown thirty Ops by this date (14 in Bomber Command) but it is believed that rest were with 415 Squadron while in Coastal Command. The draft citation for this DFC reads.. "This captain of aircraft has displayed skill, courage and determination to a marked degree. His operational record, which includes many missions to strongly defended targets in France and Germany, has set a fine example to other members of the squadron. His qualities of courage, efficiency and tenacity have contributed much to the successes attained by his squadron while his enthusiasm and fighting spirit have been highly commendable." He died on 12th October 2008, aged 88.
Both Edward Turner and Adam Kell completed Tours but returned to Canada before the end of the War.
Peter Provias was working in the laboratory of the International Nickel Co at Sudbury when he enlisted into the RCAF. He qualified as a navigator at Portage la Prairie and received his commission just before being posted to England. A Canadian newspaper of the time states that his parents lived on Rossmore Avenue but does not record the town
(possibly Hamilton or Sudbury, Ontario).
Ronald Watson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 29th October 1944 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 29th April 1945.