LEST WE FORGET
Air Operations: (No. 466 Squadron Halifax aircraft MZ313), France, 18 July 1944
No. 4 Group, occupied early in July with attacks against flying-bomb targets, made its first major railway attack on the evening of 18th July. Fifteen Halifaxes of No. 466 had been held back from participation in the early morning support for Goodwood and were now included in a force of 110 bombers ordered to attack Vaires, an important centre already twice raided earlier in July. The attack began in ragged fashion as some crews arrived ahead of schedule owing to variable winds, and some impetuous crews bombed before markers were laid. The bombing discipline of more experienced captains finally achieved a satisfactory pattern of attack, with an additional 160 craters in the main sidings and numerous cuts in the Paris-Meaux through line. Enemy gunfire near Vaires and throughout the route was troublesome, one in every three R.A.A.F. aircraft being holed.
One unforeseen result was that crews were given a convincing demonstration of the sound construction and airworthiness of the Halifax when Flight Lieutenant Finley’s aircraft was severely damaged by a shell exploding in the fuselage. The rudders were useless, the elevators would not respond and there was every prospect that the Halifax would break in two. Finley ordered his crew to bale out and his mid-upper gunner, while floating earthwards, considered that the aircraft’s back was broken as the tail unit was swinging from side to side. Nevertheless Finley and his bomb aimer, Pilot Officer Evans, attempted to fly the aircraft back to base, and by great physical exertion managed to coax it back across the sea to the Dungeness area, where it became unmanageable and they escaped by parachute shortly before it disintegrated in the air. It appeared incredible but very praiseworthy that such a large part of the return flight had been made in such a condition, and general confidence in the rugged qualities of the Halifax was increased.
Extract from Herington, J. (John) (406545) Air War Over Europe 1944-1945, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1963 – Pages 238-9
Halifax MZ313 took off from RAF Driffield at 1522 hours on 18 July 1944 on a daytime mission to bomb marshalling yards at Vaires, France. Fifteen aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and of these MZ313 failed to return.
The crew members of MZ313 were:
Flying Officer L C Abbott (155130) (RAFVR) (Navigator) Baled out, Evaded capture
Pilot Officer Roger John Evans DFC (410202) (Bomb Aimer) Bailed out over the UK, Discharged from the RAAF: 21 February 1946
Flight Lieutenant Peter Hamilton Finley DFC (412294) (Pilot) Baled out over the UK, Discharged from the RAAF: 18 September 1945
Sergeant J P T Finn (1029363) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner) Baled out, Evaded capture
Pilot Officer Gilbert John Mitchell (410686) (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) Baled out, PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 6 July 1956
Flight Sergeant Keith Mossman Tranent (426402) (Rear Gunner) Baled out, PoW, Discharged from the RAAF: 31 October 1945
Sergeant T W Wild (642341) (RAF) (Flight Engineer) Baled out, Evaded capture
The Operations Record Book records that the aircraft was hit by flak over the target area and 5 of the crew baled out in the Paris area. Flight Lieutenant Finley and Pilot Officer Evans flew back to the UK and baled out over Lympne. The aircraft blew up on abandonment and disintegrated. The ORB further records “Abortive OET. Received direct hit from H/F about 12/15 minutes from T/A. Five of crew baled out on orders from captain. Bomb jettisoned about 20 miles north of Paris. Pilot and Bomb Aimer brought Aircraft back to Dungeness area then both baled out. Aircraft disintegrated in the air soon after they abandoned it. There were no fatalities. Of the five who baled out Pilot Officer Mitchell and Flight Sergeant Tranent were captured and Flying Officer Abbott, Sergeant Finn and Sergeant Wild evaded capture and returned safely to UK.
In a 1945 report the then Flying Officer Mitchell stated “Flak seriously damaged the tail unit and fuselage of the aircraft. Ordered to put on chutes, then jump. Acknowledged. Aircraft under control with great difficulty. I baled out between 13/14,000 feet. The aircraft was flown back to UK by the pilot and bomb aimer. Others 2 PoWs and three evaded.”
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll