Halifax W7887 (04/05/1943)

Administrator

Halifax W7887 was one of six No. 35 Squadron aircraft detailed to attack Dortmund on the night of the 4th / 5th May 1943.

Its seven-man crew comprised:

  • John Jarvis Williams (Pilot)
  • Richard Charles Tucker (Navigator)
  • James Casey (Air Bomber)
  • Gordon James Hurley (Wireless Operator)
  • Eric Charles Brown (Air Gunner)
  • Thomas David Bishop (Air Gunner)
  • John Irvine Barrie (Flight Engineer)
JJ Williams Crew (see text for line up).jpg

Believed to be J Casey, EC Brown, JI Barrie, JJ Williams, TD Bishop, G Hurley, RC Tucker [Courtesy of Rhona Cameron]

The squadron’s Operations Record Book shows “This aircraft crashed at Culverston (Believed to be Chelveston) through lack of petrol on return. All the crew baled out and returned to Graveley later”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AM Form 1180

The AM Form 1180 (Accident Card) shows “Aircraft short of fuel; crew abandoned aircraft [no technical failure]. An inquiry was held as it was suggested that “the pilot should have landed when ordered”

AM Form 78

The AM Form 78 (Movement Card) shows that the aircraft was classified as Cat FB/E and was struck off charge on 14th May 1943

WR Chorley (Bomber Command Losses of WWII)

On return to the base the crew were advised on considerable activity in the airfield circuit. Instructed to hold off and awaiting landing orders the pilot began circling well away to the north west of base. Whilst doing so, the Halifax ran out of petrol and was successfully abandoned. The crew parachuted unharmed and their bomber was later discovered in fields near Woodford, 6 miles e.s.e of Kettering, Northamptonshire

EC Brown’s Log Book Entry

W7887 Log Book Entry [Gordon Boocock]

[Courtesy of Gordon Boocock]