49 Squadron Awards
GERMAN HITCH-HIKER:
F/O Bill Healey RCAF (JB679) and crew, flying D-Dog also returned early with a collision report, but this time it was between his kite and that of a German aircraft!
A sudden jar shuddered through D-Dog; looking out along the port main plane, Bill saw the shadowy shape of a Ju88 sitting on his wing tip with the German pilot clearly visible. The time was 02.01hrs and they were flying at 21,000ft. Within moments the Junkers fell away, taking ten feet of Lancaster wing with it.
F/O Healey fought for control as they lost height rapidly in a spiral dive. His crew watched as the German burst into flames as it crashed on the ground. Struggling back to Fiskerton on 3 engines and a severely shortened wing, the Healey crew touched down at O3.39hrs. A daylight inspection revealed extensive damage with the port outer engine pushed askew and the airscrew bent beyond redemption.
For his excellent display of airmanship, F/O Healey RCAF was awarded the DFC.