Halifax LL573 damaged in the air, landed at Carnaby airfield.
On 17th February 1945 this 347 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington airfield at 11.31hrs to undertake an operational flight to Wesel. Outbound and while over the North Sea the port outer engine failed and caught fire. While the fire was put out the crew opted to turn around and head for home. There appears to have been a change in the weather after take off as all 347 Squadron aircraft that returned to England were diverted to land elsewhere. Because of the damage to this aircraft this crew were probably already heading towards Carnaby in any case and they landed there at 14.02hrs.
Pilot - Adc A Vidal FFAF (541).
Flight Engineer - Adj Louis Leonard Jean Portesseau FFAF (1682).
Navigator - Ltn L Guenois FFAF (003368).
Air Bomber - S/Lt G Piccot FFAF (36677).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt J Chanson FFAF (3812).
Air Gunner - Sgt A Bruno FFAF (2175).
Air Gunner - Sgt R Pizel FFAF (960).
On the evening of 14th March 1945 this crew were flying Halifax NA681 on Ops to Homberg when the aircraft was damaged by enemy flak and the crew crashed landed in France behind Allied lines and possibly on a U.S. held airfield damaging a number of USAAF aircraft. Sadly Adj Portesseau was killed while Adc sustained injuries. The others survived. Whether they returned to the UK or fought with local forces in France is not known. They did not fly operationally with 347 Squadron again.