Banks, Donald Emery (Flying Officer)

Took off from Foulsham at 17:46 in Halifax Mk III (Sqn code: DT-S Bomber Command) on an operation to Poland.

Badly shot about by a night fighter and in the ensuing chaos flew into the tail of a Lancaster knocking off the un-occupied front turret and damaging the nose. Pilot Irvine managed to fly the aircraft East past the Russian front where the crew baled out. All landed safely except Nav F/Lt John E Nixon who was killed. Pilot Irvine then made a safe belly landing beside a road. According to post war reports the following crew were returned to England by the Russians: Flying Officer D. E. Banks RCAF - Returning to England WO J. A. Martin RCAF Flight Sergeant Arthur C. Searle RCAF Sergeant L. A. Howard RAF Flight Sergeant W. J. McCullough RCAF - Shot by a Russian Sentry, in a Polish hospital F/Lt N. (Jack) Irvine RCAF - Pilot - Returning to England Warrant Officer Class 1 R F (Scotty) Young RAF - Missing