Halifax damaged by FLAK (returned to East Moor airfield).
On the 31st of July 1942 this aircraft had bombed Dusseldorf when it was hit by flak, the blast blew it into a loop followed by
a 330mph hour descent, control was eventually regained and they later returned to base and landed in the early hours of
the 1st September. No injuries were reported.
The aircraft was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and delivered directly to 158 Sqdn at East Moor during
the last week of July 1942. After the incident detailed above Cat. A(c)/FB was recorded and it was repaired on site. Repairs were
completed by 5th August 1943. The aircraft was lost on 20th September 1942 when control was lost and after a spin the aircraft
broke up. Two were able to bale out but five sadly were killed.
Pilot - P/O Charles L Sparke RAFVR (108539), of ?
Nav - P/O Jack B Aris RAFVR (118649), of ?
F Eng - Sgt Ronald Edlington RAF (569765), of Hull.
AB - Sgt Rayden F Watson RCAF (rank at death F/O, J/16430), of Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
WOp/AG - Sgt Harry Middleton RAFVR (1127130), of South Elmsall, Yorkshire.
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Clifford G Dawson RAFVR (141810), of ?
Rear Gunner - Sgt Denis R Collyer RAFVR (80427), of Felixstowe, Suffolk.
P/O Sparke and crew completed their conversion training with 158 CU at East Moor on 11th July 1942, Sparke flew his 1st Op with half of the crew
involved in the detailed above on 21st July 1942 to Nantes in BB208. All of the above named apart from Sgt Dawson were killed on 11th December 1942 when Halifax DT579 crashed in France.
P/O Collyer was one of the oldest in Bomber Command at 31 years old. All were buried at Villeneuve-en-Montagne Communal cemetery.
P/O Dawson was killed on 3rd April 1943 still serving with 158 Sqdn when Halifax DT635 crashed in Germany,
he now buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.