Personnel Index - Detail
Awarded the DFM.
Flew at least 6 (possibly 10) operations with 49Sqn.
He was killed on the 26th May 1944 flying with 5 LFS (Lancaster Finishing School at Syerston).
The Lancaster crashed near Gonalston, Notts killing all onboard.
Sgt Noble is buried in the Newark upon Trent Cemetery.
Images via Ashley Hales
Extract is from Bill Chorley's Bomber Command Losses
Image via Ashley Hales.
Earlier in his career F/Sgt Noble had been involved in a collision with a Ju88.
Leipzig 19th February 1944:
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 Lancaster 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 three engines and a severely shortened wing, the Healey crew touched down at 03.39hrs. 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.