Halifax NP695 damaged by flak, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 18th / 19th July 1944 this 432 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb oil plants at Wessling and took off from East Moor at 22.32hrs. The aircraft was coned in searchlights over the target at 12,500ft at 01.15hrs and then was hit by flak. The bomb aimer, P/O Cresswell was injured in the leg but the pilot was able to keep control and land safely back at East Moor at 03.44hrs.
The crew had been involved in a similar incident at the start of the month. In a letter from East Moor's Padre S/Ldr Lautenslager to P/O Cresswell's mother he refers to this flak incident and stated that "In a raid on an oil plant in the Ruhr on Tuesday night a small piece of shrapnel came up through the plane. A bit hit him in the knee. His parachute also caught fire. He put the fire out and got back safely to base. He wasn't in much pain. I saw him when he returned and he said he didn't know that he was hit until he felt a little warm blood on his leg. He is in hospital near York. They took a little bit of steel out of his knee yesterday. They see no reason why there should be any permanent injury. He seemed to feel quite alright when he returned from the raid – was very cheerful. Today however he feels sickish from the ether." George Cresswell also stated in a letter home to his mother that this operational flight was his seventh.
Pilot - P/O Henry Britton RCAF (J/85998),.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Ernest William Knight RAF (635682).
Navigator - Sgt Paul Hyatt RCAF (R/171835).
Bomb Aimer - P/O George Elliott Creswell RCAF (J/35134). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Stewart John Walker RCAF (J/12623).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Dickinson RCAF (R/256049).
Air Gunner - Sgt William Hoffman RCAF (R/204180).
George Cresswell wrote many letters home during his time in the UK and these are transcribed on www.canadianletters.ca.
He was born on 7th June 1924 to Fred and Cora Creswell of Duff, Saskatchewan, he grew up in Kelvington, Saskatchewan and enlisted the day after his eighteenth birthday on 8th June 1942. After basic training in Canada he left for England towards the end of 1943. After crewing up and training at 22 OTU in Warwickshire their original navigator, Albert Munsden, was hospitalised and the crew received a replacement in Paul Hyatt. The crew arrived at 432 Squadron towards the end of June 1944 and the pilot Henry (Harry) Britton received his commission around the same time. After being injured by flak in the incident at the top of this page George Cresswell did not return to his original crew and they received a replacement. By the end of November 1944 he was back at East Moor with 432 Squadron as a spare bomb aimer but just in time to meet up with some of the other members of his crew before they were posted elsewhere. He flew the odd trip as a spare bomb aimer until the end of 1944. During January 1945 he crewed up with a new crew, P/O Frank Baxter's crew, their original bomb aimer had been killed in the days previously and were then short of the bomb aimer. On 21st February 1945 he was flying on an operational flight to bomb Werms in Halifax RG476, the aircraft failed to return and was later found by advancing American Forces to have crashed, his body was found in the wreckage. He is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery, Bayern, Germany. His parents were living in Wadena when he died. He was still only twenty years old. Creswell Bay and Creswell Island in Saskatchewan are named in his honour.
Halifax NP695 was built to contract ACFT/1688/C4/C by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was delivered to 432 Squadron at East Moor on 7th June 1944. On 19th July 1944 it sustained flak damage, Cat.Ac/FB damage would probably have been the damage assessment although the assessment is not logged on the AM Form 78, the repair on site at East Moor being carried out Handley Page is on the AM Form 78. The aircraft appears to have been servicable by 24th July 1944 and was then returned to 432 Squadron. It was damaged by flak on 6th September 1944 with a Cat.Ac/FB damage asssessment resulting. Again it was repaired on site at East Moor and returned to 432 Squadron on 20th October 1944. On 6th December 1944 it failed to return from Ops to Osnabruck. Cat.Em damage was recorded on the paperwork and the aircraft was struck off charge. Halifax NP695 carried the nose art 'Katy Bug' while with 432 Squadron.
On 12th October 1944 many of the crew named above were on their last Op of their Tour, a daylight trip to Wanne Eickel in Halifax NP738. They were hit by flak and damage was sustained to the forward fuselage which killed the replacement spare bomb aimer, F/O Todd, and severely injured the flight engineer, Sgt Knight. On return to England the pilot tried to land at the crash strip at Woodbridge but flew into trees on approach. Sgt Knight was admitted to hospital where his hand could not be saved. For his actions and bravery he was awarded the CGM. F/O Todd was later buried at Brookwood Cemetery. In another letter home to his mother George Cresswell had learnt of this this incident and wrote that "they had their two inner engines knocked out by flak while over the Rhur.... they managed to get back to this country ok and crash landed on the South East Coast. They went through a house in doing so and the skipper has his legs cut up a bit. Both he and the engineer are in hospital but coming along ok".
Henry Britton was recommended for the DFC for service with 432 Squadron on 19th October 1944 when he had flown twenty eight operational flights between 27th June 1944 and 12th October 1944. His DFC was Gazetted on 19th January 1945 but there was no proper citation. George Cresswell refers to him in his letters home as being posted back to Canada after the crash landing at Woodbridge. The recommendation as located by Hugh Halliday added more details, it reads.. "Throughout his operational career this officer has displayed enthusiasm and keenness for operational flying. He has been an inspiration to the members of his crew and at all times has shown a high degree of airmanship and dogged determination, having completed twenty-eight successful sorties. His calm, quiet manner, qualities of leadership and splendid record warrant a strong recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)."
As stated above Sgt Ernest Knight was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) while serving with 432 Squadron. He was born in Billinghurst, Sussex in 1920 and enlisted in February 1939. Notification of his CGM was printed in the London Gazette on 15th December 1944, the citation reads.. "One morning in October 1944, this airman was the Flight Engineer of an aircraft detailed to attack Wanne Eickel. Whilst over the target the aircraft was badly hit by anti-aircraft fire. The bomb aimer was killed and Sergeant Knight was wounded. His injury was severe. Although suffering acutely he insisted on remaining at his post, ready to give of his best to assist his captain in his attempt to fly the badly damaged aircraft home. One engine was completely out of action, whilst a second was kept functioning only by Sergeant Knight's constant attention. This airman displayed courage, fortitude and devotion to duty of a high order. His example was most inspiring."
Stewart John Walker enlisted in North Bay, Ontario in July 1941 and was recommended for the DFC for service with 432 Squadron on 28th December 1944 when he had completed twenty six operational flights between 28th June 1944 and 12th October 1944. The DFC was granted and notification was printed in the London Gazette on 22nd May 1945, although there was no full citation the recommendation was detailed and reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Walker has completed twenty-six successful operational sorties. Many of these have been accomplished in the face of heavy opposition. As Wireless Operator he has displayed great courage and skill and has at all times co-operated in the highest possible degree with the other members of his crew. For his splendid record, loyalty and devotion to duty, this officer is recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)."
Paul Hyatt lived in Wadena, Saskatchewan for a number of years in the 1930s, his father was a Lutheran minister and was living in Regina, Saskatchewan by March 1944. He was posted back to Canada in November 1944 after the landing at Woodbridge.
I credit Hugh Halliday's research in compiling this webpage.