Handley Page Halifax JB869 DY 'H-Harry'
102 Squadron, RAF Pocklington
Built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by the English Electric Company at Samlesbury near Preston, JB869 was a Mark BII (Series 1A) Special fitted with the famous Tollerton 'Z' nose fairing. She was taken on charge by 102 Squadron on 24 March 1943 (squadron code 'DY') and designated as 'H-Harry'. Lost on The Dortmund Raid of 4/5 May 1943 she was struck off charge by the RAF on 8 May 1943.
Operation Sprat - The Dortmund Raid 4 May 1943
596 aircraft (255 Lancasters, 151 Halifaxes, 110 Wellingtons, 80 Stirlings and 10 Oboe-equipped Mosquitos took part in what was to become the largest non-thousand plane raid of the war to date and the first major attack on Dortmund.
31 Aircraft were lost including 12 Halifaxes, 7 Stirlings, 6 Lancasters and 6 Wellingtons. For JB869 the raid would cost the lives of Bernard Happold, Gordon Bowles, Duncan McGregor and John Baxter. My father (Harry Barratt) John Brownlie and Tommy Jones would become Prisoners of War.
The Crew of JB869 DY 'H - Harry'
Sgt William Bernard HAPPOLD
PILOT
Killed in action 4/5 May 1943
F/O John BAXTER
BOMB AIMER
Killed in action 4/5 May 1943
Sgt Gordon Stanley BOWLES
FLIGHT ENGINEER
Killed in action 4/5 May 1943
Sgt Duncan Roy MCGREGOR
MID UPPER GUNNER
Killed in action 4/5 May 1943
Sgt John BROWNLIE
WIRELESS OPERATOR
Taken Prisoner of War 5 May 1943
Sgt Joseph Harold BARRATT
NAVIGATOR
Taken Prisoner of War 5 May 1943
