Halifax damaged by FLAK (returned to East Moor airfield).

On the 2nd of October 1942 this aircraft was hit by flak on a raid on Krefeld. The aircraft was hit in the starboard outer engine just before bombing after it overshot the aiming point and strayed into a strongly defended area. Two bombs hung-up and a return to East Moor was made. No injuries were reported. Upon landing, Cat A(c)/FA damage was declared to the aircraft, the damaged engine was written off with Cat E damage.

The aircraft was built to contract B982938/39 by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered directly to 158 Sqdn at East Moor during the last week of July 1942. It suffered damage on Ops to Bochum on 6th August 1942 and was repaired following damage to both inner engines. Repair took some time to complete on site but the aircraft was returned to service by 2nd October 1942 but on it's first Op (to Krefeld) after repair, now coded NP-B, it suffered 'flak' damage to the starboard outer engine and wing and was given Cat B damage on return to base. It was repaired in works at YARD, Clifton and was then issued to 1654 HCU at Wigsley in early 1943. This was clearly an error as 1654 HCU were a Lancaster unit and may have only been a paper transfer as the aircraft then appeared on charge with 1668 HCU at Balderton on 15th August 1943 and was transferred to 1656 HCU at Lindholme on an as yet unspecified date in 1944 where it completed it life before being struck off charge as a time expired airframe on 1st September 1944.

Pilot - Sgt Sydney H J White RAFVR (138691).

Nav - Kenneth C Hammond RAFVR (138827), of Brighton, Sussex.

Bomb Aimer - P/O Ronald G Woods RAFVR (120667), of Bedford.

Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Thomas L Gray RAFVR (1416025), of Holloway, London.

W Op - Sgt A T Smith.

Rear Gunner - Sgt Henry B Moorshead RAFVR (1339757), of Ford, Plymouth.

F Eng - Sgt Nicholas Pringle RAFVR (1211131).