Halifax W7933 on Hawnby Moor, Snilesworth.

On 12th December 1942 the Halifax crashed into a hill north of Hawnby after getting lost on return from Ops to Turin. 82 aircraft were dispatched but more than half turned back before crossing the Alps due to severe icing conditions. This crew were told to divert to Middleton St. George due to thick cloud over base at Pocklington, the aircraft descended through the cloud over the Moors to check position only to strike the high ground near Low Thwaites Farm killing all on board in an instant. The aircraft ploughed its way through a number of fields and dry-stone walls before coming to rest very close to the farm house. It also knocked the toilet building down, damaged the cow house and cut a sycamore tree down before coming to rest lined up with the track down to the farm from the High Thwaites road. A fire broke out which damaged a store house next to the main farm building. The RAF MU took some time to dismantle this aircraft and stayed at Sportsmans Hall, just to the south of Low Thwaites Farm. The farmhouse was owned by the Kitchin family, who were not at the house at the time. They worked near Arden. One of the engines had somehow gone through the cow house door and left the frame and stonework almost undamaged. When the RAF came to remove it however it was a different story, they simply pulled the small building down to get at it. Its ruins are still visable in 2011.

Halifax W7933 was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page at Radlett and delivered to 102 Squadron during the first week of December 1942. It was destroyed in the crash detailed above and officially sustained Cat.E2/FB Burnt damage on 12th December 1942.

Pilot - Sgt Gerald J Morgan RAFVR (1081231), aged 21, of Liverpool. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Richard L Lines RAFVR (942146), aged 26, of Wolstanton, Stoke on Trent. Buried Stoke on Trent, Burslem Cemetery.

Navigator / Bomber - Sgt Carl R Woolley RAFVR (1575390), aged 33, of Nottingham. Buried Nottingham Southern Cemetery.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Basil Norris RAFVR (1335250), aged 19, of Wallington, Surrey. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William H Casson RAFVR (778385), aged 21, of Inyango, Southern Rhodesia (now Nyanga, Zimbabwe). Buried Gosforth, Northumberland.

Air Gunner - Sgt John A McPhee RCAF (R/92407), aged 27, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Allen RCAF (R/87266), aged 25, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Sgt Morgan (although a poor photograph) and his headstone at Barmby Moor Churchyard.

Sgt Woolley and his gravestone at Nottingham Cemetery (my thanks to Mr Tony Glover for this photograph, he is in the process of writing a book detailing all Nottingham's casualties during WW2).

The other three graves at Barmby Moor churchyard.

John McPhee was born on 27th February 1915.

Frank Allen was born on 5th September 1919.

Sgt William Casson's brother John Casson was also a member of aircrew in the RAFVR. By May 1944 he was posted to 250 Squadron as a pilot, as F/Sgt he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) the following month for actions in May 1944 while based at San Angelo, Italy. On 27th May 1944 he was detailed for an armed reconnaissance mission along the Caprino-Arche-Frosinone road. Near Frosinone, over twenty enemy motor transport vehicles were spotted and Red Section, led by Casson, in Kittyhawk FX761, attacked the convoy. He scored four hits on the road and claimed one motor vehicle destroyed when it blew up. The section then attacked in pairs and obtained further hits. The aircraft was fired upon by flak from several ground positions. Casson had made his two runs in the face of severe opposition. In his second attack his Kittyhawk was hit by a shell and he was seriously wounded and his aircraft holed and a tyre punctured. Dispite his injuries Casson flew his aircraft back to base, a distance of fifty miles, while being lifted from his cockpit he finally passed out. He was recommended for the CGM the same day by his Commanding Officer, Major J.R.R. Wells D.F.C., but sadly he succumbed to his wounds. His action came at the height of the Battle for Rome. At the time of his death, John Casson had flown ninety-eight operational flights and had 496 flying hours to his name. The citation for the award reads..

"One morning in May 1944, this airman took part in an attack on mechanical transport on the Alatri-Frosinone Road. Despite intense opposing fire, Flight Sergeant Casson pressed home his attacks with great determination. Whilst making a second, run over the target his aircraft was hit by a shell. Flight Sergeant Casson was badly wounded in the thigh. Although faint through the loss of blood and shock, this valiant pilot flew his damaged aircraft to base. He was unable to operate one rudder-bar owing to his exhausted condition. Nevertheless, he effected a safe landing. As he was lifted from the controls, Flight Sergeant Casson collapsed. This airman displayed courage, fortitude and devotion to duty of the highest order."

He died later the same day on 27th May 1944 of these injuries and is buried in Minturno War Cemetery, Italy, he was twenty one years old. He received his commission to P/O on 14th May 1944 but notification of this was not printed in the London Gazette until after his death on 25th July 1944. He was the first Rhodesian to be awarded the C.G.M. Both William and John Casson's medal sets were sold at auction in 2002.

The Halifax crashed through the fields before striking the farmhouse in the centre on the horizon.

The ruined farm house of Low Thwaites nearby. I am told that the wall in the foreground was demolished by the aircraft.

The farm as seen from the opposite side. The Halifax ploughed through the building to the right of the photo, badly damaged the tree in the centre and ended up near the foreground to the photo. It also took the roof of the far end of the farmhouse.

The area of the crash as viewed from the north, the farm is centre right.

I have visited the area a number of times but have yet to locate anything "aircraft" on the ground. A number of pans on the farm tip did attract my gaze briefly.

Low Thwaites was last occupied full time in either 1947 or 1948, since then it has seen better days. It was finally deserted in 1957 (so John says). It still remains a local land mark and can be seen for miles around. The main farm build was partially renovated in summer 2004 possibly for use by shooting parties on the moor.

Part of a navigation instrument found at the crash site some years ago by Mr John Severs, this item was passed to me in 2005 and is in my posession until I trace the navigator of this aircraft's family. A complete example is shown below.

My thanks to Mr J Weighell, Mr W Wood and Mr A Clark, all formerly of Snilesworth, for additional information regarding this crash and all recounting very vivid memories of the crash.