Halifax NA526 damaged by enemy action, landed safely at (probably) Breighton airfield.
I have located a damage returns file listing aircraft of No.4 Group that were damaged during February 1945, although it does not state the identity of the aircraft involved it gives the squadron, pilot's name, date and a basic description of how the damage occurred. By cross-checking with the squadron records some of the incidents can be linked to specific aircraft.
This incident refers to damage sustained on an operational flight on the night of 13th / 14th February 1945 when the 78 Squadron crew undertook an operational flight to bomb an oil refinery at Bohlen. The aircraft took off Breighton airfield 18.13hrs and released their bomb load at 21.59hrs from 19,000 feet identified by green target markers because of 8/10th cloud that obscured visual identification of the target. The squadron records state that the crew landed at 02.00hrs and does not mention any damage occurring or where the landing was made. The No.4 Group damage return states it sustained minor Cat.Ac damage due to enemy action on 14th February 1945 and as this pilot did not fly on the night of 14th / 15th February 1945 it must have occurred on the previous night on Ops to Bohlen.
Pilot - F/O Robert Ellsworth Penrice RCAF (J/92559).
Navigator - P/O Edward Bentley McVey RCAF (J/92790).
Bomb Aimer - P/O George Edward Kalen RCAF (J/92327).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt William Brookes RAFVR (1583739).
Flight Engineer - Sgt George Wilfred Bruce RAFVR (1594130).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Walter Lloyd RCAF (R/252077).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Edward Albert Kimber RCAF (R/207732).
The 78 Squadron records mention various aircraft by squadron code that landed away from base but does not link the squadron codes to their aircraft at all. The following five aircraft listed below may relate to Halifax NA526, "-T" would be my favourite for it being NA526 with minor damage being discovered at a later date after the initial check...
"-T" : Attacked by enemy aircraft homebound, took evasive action but "not damaged". No landing location given so I assume Breighton.
"-C" : Landed Woodbridge.
"-O" : Landed Wrattling Common.
"-I" : Landed Wrattling Common.
"-P" : Landed Manston.