Halifax NA205 damaged in the air, landed at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.
During the evening of 6th January 1945 this 76 Squadron aircraft was flown on an operational flight to bomb Hannau and took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 15.39hrs. The crew released their bomb load onto target markers from 18,000 feet at 19.08hrs. While over the target the aircraft was struck a 2,000 lb bomb and also incendiaries dropped by a higher flying aircraft. A fire broke out inside the fuselage but was put out by members of the crew. Despite the damage the crew flew the aircraft back to base and landed at Holme on Spalding Moor at 21.53hrs.
The pilot was later awarded the DFC and his recommendation (as sourced by Hugh Halliday) added the note for this incident that “Over the target area, after dropping bombs and closing the bomb doors, an aircraft flying at right angles to the stream dropped incendiaries and bombs from above. An incendiary lodged in the fuselage beneath the oxygen bottles and started the fire, A 2,000-lb bomb went through the starboard aileron. The fire was extinguished after ten minutes. Rudder control and elevator trim became noticeably stiffer but aircraft remained controllable. Returned to base.”
Pilot - F/Lt Stuart Thomas Orser RCAF (J/25820).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt K Honan RCAF (R/160434).
Navigator - P/O G Griffith RCAF (J/92537).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt F C Withers RAFVR (1678817).
Air Gunner - Sgt J E Bath RCAF (R/215099).
Flight Engineer - Sgt A B Gurr RAFVR (1802552).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt J H Boddis RCAF (R/210244).