Halifax NP944 damaged in the air, landed at Carnaby airfield.
During the evening of 5th October 1944 this 433 Squadron aircraft was used to fly an operational flight to lay mines in the Heligoland area. The crew took off from Skipton on Swale airfield at 18.03hrs and released their mines from 12,000 feet at 20.18hrs. Just after releasing their mines the Halifax was attacked by an enemy Junkers Ju188 and while the Halifax generally shot up in the por wing and rear fuselage, a cannon shell entered the rear turret and went through the head of the rear gunner killing him instantly. Owing to the damage to the controls the pilot was unable to take any corkscrewing evasive action. At the time of being attacked the gunners returned fire and other members of the crew later stated that they saw the enemy aircraft turn on it's back and dive into the sea. Despite the damage to the aircraft the crew managed to get the Halifax back to Carnaby where they landed at 23.02hrs.
Pilot - F/O William Thomas Glenn Watson RCAF (J/19884).
Navigator - P/O Herbert Scott McNab RCAF (J/90262).
Air Bomber - P/O Joseph Frederick Roy Descent RCAF (J/88271).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt James Beverley Paul RCAF (R/125253).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Douglas Menzies RAFVR (3020205).
Air Gunner - P/O John Malcolm Cochrane RCAF (J/88460).
Air Gunner - P/O Joseph M Zareikin RCAF (C/88488). aged 36, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G/A/14).
A newspaper report as transcribed in Hugh Halliday's RCAF awarded research states "Attacked twice by a Ju.188 during a mining mission in enemy waters, P/O J.M. Cochrane of 514 Winthrop Avenue, Michigan, U.S.A., a mid-upper gunner with the Porcupine squadron, is fairly certain the enemy night fighter fell to his guns and was destroyed. Pilot of the Halifax bomber was F/O G.T.W. “Whipper” Watson of 92 Wellington Blvd, Toronto, Ontario. During the skirmish with the Jerry, the rear gunner was killed when two cannon shells smashed through the rear turret, and the aircraft so badly shot up that at one time it dropped 11,000 feet before the pilot was able to level it off. The big bomber had completed its mission and turned for home when the fighter attacked from the starboard quarter below. The mid-upper gunner spotted it as it opened fire from 300 yards range with cannon shell which ripped into the starboard tail-plane, fuselage and rear turret, killing the rear gunner. The twin-engined job then slid across dead astern with its guns still blazing. Cannon shell tore gaping holes in the port tail-plane, dinghy and port inner engine, cut the fuel lines and cables in the port wing, went through three inches of the main spar, raked the port side of the fuselage and rendered the ailerons useless. Despite damage to three cylinders, the port inner engine kept going as the Halifax was forced to fly dead level because the ailerons were useless. "I guess the Jerry figured he had done for us," the mid-upper said. "On the first attack, I was unable to bring my guns to bear, but when he climbed up on our port and drove in to attack at 150 yards range, I let him have a continuous burst with all four guns." "I saw tracers hit his starboard wing before two of my guns packed up. I kept on firing with the other two and saw tracers bouncing off the starboard engine. They were smashing into the starboard wing roots and climbing up the fuselage into the cockpit. Finally his nose went up and his wheels dropped. He flipped over on his back and headed earthward in front of us. I lost sight of him as our aircraft was diving out of control at the time."
The pilot F/O William Watson was also awarded the DFC for service with 433 Squadron, Gazetted on 5th December 1944.
The Mid Upper Gunner P/O John Cochrane was awarded the DFC for his actions on this night, Gazetted on 15th December 1944. The citation stated "One night in October 1944 this officer was the mid-upper gunner of an aircraft detailed for a mine-laying mission. When leaving the target area the aircraft was struck by a burst of machine gun fire from an enemy fighter. Much damage was sustained and the rear gunner was killed. All the aileron controls were severed and, as the fighter closed in for a second attack, evading action could not be taken. During this Pilot Officer Cochrane coolly withheld his fire until the attacker came to close range. Then, with a well placed burst of fire he shot the enemy aircraft down. His coolness, courage and good shooting set a very fine example. This officer has participated in many sorties."