Lancaster damaged by a night-fighter / returning to East Moor airfield.

On the 26th of November 1943 this aircraft left East Moor around tea-time for Ops to Berlin. Whilst over the target the aircraft was attacked by a night-fighter which inflicted damage rendering the rear turret out of action. They avoided further action and returned safely to East Moor. Whilst their exact take off time and landing time is not known, 432 Sqdn set out between 16.30hrs and 18.00hrs, bombing the target between 20.30 hrs and 22.00 hrs. The first aircraft arriving back at East Moor shortly after mid-night, with the last returning around 02.00 hrs.

The aircraft was build to contract ACFT/239 by Armstrong Whitworth Ltd at Baginton and delivered to 432 Sqdn at East Moor in October 1943. The aircraft suffered Cat. A(c)/FB as a result of the damage detailed above. It was repaired on site and the repair took some considerable time to complete and the aircraft was not used operationally again until 21st January 1944 when it completed only it's 2nd Op. with the unit. The aircraft completed a further 3 Ops. with 432 Sqdn before being transferred to 408 Sqdn at Linton-on-Ouse (then coded EQ-G) during the first week of February 1944. It was lost as Cat. E(m) on 20th February 1944 when it failed to return from Ops to Leipzig. It crashed near Stendal, Germany, two being killed and 5 PoW's being taken.

Pilot - Sgt Peter Dennis RCAF. Of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.

Nav - Sgt J Atkins (or G Atkins)

B/A - P/O J O'Gorman.

WOp/AG - Sgt P B Woolfenden RAF (173999).

Rear Gunner - Sgt Joseph H L Quesnel RCAF. Born Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. Living in Reading Berks, UK.

F/Eng - Sgt W H Kent RAFVR,

MUG - Sgt W Piding.

For their actions on Ops on 26th November 1943 F/Sgt Dennis and Sgt Quesnel were each awarded DFM's when Lancaster LL632 was attacked by a night-fighter on Ops to Berlin. F/Sgt Dennis brought the badly damaged aircraft home safely and Sgt Quensal directed his pilot as to the whereabouts of the night-fighter after his turret was rendered u/s. Dennis was born in 1923 and worked as a clerk until he enlisted in Winnipeg on 13th November 1941. He was awarded his Wings on 18th December 1942. Quesnel was born in 1922 in Canada but later came to the UK and worked in Reading as a lathe operator. He returned home and enlisted in Toronto on 27th October 1941 and finished his basic training in Canada in January 1942. he survived the War and received his DFM by post in 1950! The Op detailed above was F/Sgt Dennis's 5th Op. with 432 Sqdn and his 2nd on Lancasters.

Dennis' citation reads... ""Flight Sergeant Dennis has completed numerous sorties and has displayed great skill, determination and devotion to duty. One night in November 1943 he piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Berlin. Whilst over the target area his aircraft was attacked on three occasions by enemy fighters. Nevertheless, he skilfully evaded the enemy aircraft and successfully attacked the target, afterwards flying his badly damaged aircraft to base. His effort was highly commendable.

Quesnel's citation reads.... ""As rear gunner Sergeant Quesnel has taken part in several sorties and has proved himself to be a cool and reliable member of aircraft crew. During a sortie one night in December 1943, his aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. In the engagement Sergeant Quesnel fought with great resolution and destroyed one of the attackers. On another occasion in November 1943, his aircraft was attacked three times by enemy fighters. His turret was rendered unserviceable but he coolly directed his pilot's combat manoeuvres and the attacker was evaded. This airman has set a very fine example.

P/O Dennis and his crew completed 21 Ops with 432 Sqdn before being posted out in mid March 1944.

On 19th April 1944 P/O Kent was lost when Halifax LW64 of 432 Sqdn failed to return from Ops to Noisy-le-Sec. It crashed near Clichy and he is buried along with five other crew members in Clichy Northern Cemetery, just north of Paris.

P/O Woolfenden was made a PoW on 28th June 1944 when Halifax MZ591 was shot down by a night fighter, he was the only survivor.