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1943-07-14 Pilot Officer - Survived | |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II JD174 EQA | 408 (B) Sqn (RCAF) |
Take-off: 00:09 | Target: Aachen Germany |
Halifax B/GR.Mk.II JD174Ferry Flight Aachen Germany 1943-July-13 to 1943-July-14
408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom) RAF Leeming, Halifax II aircraft JD 174 EQ-A outbound on a raid to Auchen, Germany was attacked by a night fighter. The attack left the bomber's hydraulic system inoperable, with the bomb doors unable to open and the landing gear unable to be lowered. The stricken aircraft was able to limp back to England but then, with a full bomb load and inoperable landing gear, the crew had little choice but to bale out. The crew and then the pilot abandoned the Halifax which then crashed and exploded in the Arden Woods between the villages of Hawnby and Kepwick, Yorkshire, England. There were no air crew losses
Pilot Bain, who broke his leg on landing, was accosted by the family whose land the aircraft had crashed on, who were suspicious of his accent, and dragged him painfully at shotgun point to their house where he was able to convince them he was an ally. He was later awarded a DFC for this sortie. The rest of the crew, Labow, Haugen, Wood, Magson, Acorn and Connolly (RAF) survived.
Aircraft accidents on the North Yorkshire Moors
Others on the Aircraft
1943-07-14 RCAF Sergeant George Warburton Acorn Survived 2022-06-231943-07-14 RCAF Flying Officer Donald Thomas Bain DFC Survived 2022-06-23
1943-07-14 RAF Sergeant Joseph James Connelly Survived 2024-03-26
1943-07-14 RCAF Sergeant Willard Melvin Haugen Survived 2022-06-23
1943-07-14 RCAF Sergeant John Irvin Labow Survived 2022-06-23
1943-07-14 RCAF Sergeant Ernest Henry Wood Survived 2022-06-23