Halifax NR149 damaged by enemy aircraft, landed at Driffield airfield.
On the night of 20th / 21st February 1945 the crew of this 466 Squadron were tasked with flying an operational flight to bomb a oil refinery target at Reisholz in the Dusseldorf area. The aircraft took off from Driffield airfield at 21.58hrs and released their bombload over the target area at 01.32hrs from 15,000 feet. During the course of the flight the aircraft received minor damaged caused by an enemy fighter. This damage did not present the crew much trouble in making the return to base, landed at 04.27hrs.
Pilot - P/O Alan Percy William Shelton RAAF (428602).
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Roger Robert Johnson RAAF (437965).
Navigator - F/Sgt Patrick Joseph Hogan RAAF (436464).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Gregory Wills Dixon RAAF (428968).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Walter Edward Welsh RAFVR (1606174).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Graham Dodge Laing RAAF (115148).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Vivian Donald Bullen RAAF (431933).
On 4th March 1945 many of this crew were in Halifax NR179 when the aircraft was shot down and (almost certainly) crashed near Fridaythorpe. Sadly Shelton, Johnson, Welsh and Dixon were killed.