Halifax NP703 damaged by enemy aircraft, returned to East Moor airfield.
On the night of 12th / 13th August 1944 this 432 Squadron aircraft took off from East Moor at 21.41hrs with the crew tasked with bombing Brunswick. The crew released the bomb load from 18,500 feet at 00.13hr. At 01.10hrs the aircraft was attacked by an Me110 and minor damage was sustained to the Halifax's nose. The pilot took evasive action in a corkscrew to port and both air gunners returned fire and believed the enemy aircraft as being slightly damaged. The pilot was able to return to East Moor and land safely at 03.01hrs.
The squadron records do not list any damage being sustained to this aircraft on this date but Richard Koval's superb No.6 Group RCAF website mentions damage and he must have got his information from somewhere. I shall update this page when I locate the source myself.
Pilot - F/O D Best RCAF (J/16169).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Edward Tarleton RAF (2203500).
Navigator - F/O J Barlow RCAF (J/28959).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Douglas Bentley Hopkins RCAF (J/28985).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald Malham RAFVR (1492882).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt H Laudrum RCAF (R/205347).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt F Lindblom RCAF (R/203652).
F/O Best and his crew joined 432 Squadron in May 1944. Best flew two operational flights as a second pilot before beginning operational flying as captain with his own crew. He went on to complete thirty four, thirty two as Captain and two as second pilot with the last flight being on 6th October 1944. The lack of awards this crew received goes to show that just by completing a Tour it did not automatically means the award of a DFC or DFM, only the bomb aimer received any award but undoubtably all were capable airmen.
Douglas Hopkins was born in Vancouver in 1921 but was living in Langley Prairie when he enlisted for RCAF service in Vancouver in March 1942. He received a commission in 1943. He was recommended for the DFC on 28th October 1944 when he had flown thirty two operational flights between 27th May 1944 and 6th October 1944. Notification of his DFC was printed in the London Gazette on 16th February 1945 but there was no proper citation. The recommendation was detailed and reads.. "Flying Officer Hopkins is an above average Air Bomber, who has shown a high degree of skill and courage. This has been demonstrated in thirty-two successful sorties over enemy targets. His cheerful disposition, coupled with complete confidence and ability to successfully impart his knowledge to others, has been instrumental in developing new crews. For his fine record of achievement and strong sense of duty, this officer is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (Non-Immediate)." I credit Hugh Halliday with his research of the DFC.
Edward Tarleton received a commission on 2nd February 1945 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and rose to F/O (war subs) on 2nd August 1945. He remained in the RAF post-war and was granted the rank of F/O (subs) on 1st November 1946, back dated to 2nd February 1946. He relinquished his commission in 1954.
Both Sgt Laudrum and Sgt Lindblom trained at 3 B&G School, 22 OTU and 1666 HCU before posting to 432 Squadron. This would suggest that the whole of the Best crew had come through 1666 HCU at Wombleton.