On the night of 15th / 16th January 1942 this 408 Squadron aircraft was part of the force attacking Hamburg and they took off from their base at Balderton, Nottinghamshire at 17.15hrs (or possibly a satellite airfield of nearby Syerston). On their return to England the crew became lost upon crossing the English coast and while they heard the warning tones that barrage balloons were near them they could not pin point their position. It is possible that these barrage balloons were in the Middlesbrough area and the aircraft had crossed the coastline somewhere in the River Tees area. The weather was poor on this night and a number of other crews were struggling to make safe landings. The wireless operator of AE393 requested assistance from a direction finding station at just before midnight but other aircraft requested higher priority direction fixes so this aircraft was deemed lesser priority and when help was requested a second time no reply came. The events of what then happened is not known but whilst flying in cloud the aircraft flew into the side of Bishopdale (a spur of Wensleydale) at around 00.30hrs (police records) or 03.00hrs (RAF records) on 16th January 1942 and into deep snow. Two of the crew were thrown out of the aircraft into the snow and were killed, two others were trapped in the cockpit area and were rescued by a number of farmers who were alerted of the crash and made their way up to the site. Sadly one of these trapped airmen died soon after being rescued. The pilot survived and was initially treated for his injuries at a nearby farm before being taken to hospital. The pilot could not remember anything about the crash, he reported the altimeter had read at 5,000ft prior to the impact with a hillside near West Burton, and an investigation concluded that the altimeter was probably reading incorrectly at the time of the crash. The time of the crew needs some investigation. There were a number of flying accidents in England sustained to aircraft returning from Hamburg on this night and all occurred well before 03.00hrs. 00.30hrs would fit far better with the time the crew made a radio request and does not leave some three hours when nothing is known of the aircraft. David Earl details this incident in his second book, "Hell on High Ground 2".
Hampden AE393 was built to contract B.67577/40 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was allotted to 29 M.U. on 11th August 1941. It was received by 29 M.U. on 21st September 1941 and after acceptance it was taken on charge by 44 Squadron at Waddington on 30th September 1941. 44 Squadron then ceased operating Hampden Mk.I's in December 1941. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that this aircraft was passed to 420 Squadron on 30th December 1941 and does not mention any transfer to 408 Squadron at Balderton. When it crashed in Yorkshire on 16th January 1942 the aircraft was definitely a 408 Squadron aircraft. The 420 Squadron transfer may be a paperwork error or it was swiftly transferred to 408 Squadron. As a result of the damage sustaiend on 16th January 1942 Cat.E2/FB damage was recorded and the aircraft was written off. It was struck off charge on 23rd January 1942.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Wilfred Jasper Burnett DFC RCAF (40076). Injured.
Navigator - F/Sgt James Arthur Bunting RAF (580639), aged 21. Buried Otley Cemetery (Newall with Clifton & Lindley), Yorkshire (I/211).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt John Robinson Appleby RAFVR (995056), aged 26. Buried Stockton on Tees Cemetery (Durham Road), Co.Durham.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Maurice Jones RAF (619483), aged 21. Buried Tibshelf Churchyard, Derbyshire.
James Bunting was born in Guiseley on 30th January 1920 and was the son of John Charles and Phyllis Mary (nee Cartwright) Bunting. He begun his operational flying with 49 Squadron in December 1939 and by September 1940 he had flown forty operational flights. After a spell with 14 O.T.U. he was posted to 408 Squadron to fly operationally again. I thank his nephew Mr D.Crossley for kindly contacting me in December 2014 and for the additional information and photograph he was able to provide to this account.
John Appleby was born on 13th May 1916 at Stockton on Tees, Durham and was the son of Thomas and Annie (nee Hopper) Appleby. In the 1939 register he is listed as a laboratory assistant working within the heavy chemical industry. He had also previously flown with 49 Squadron before posting to 408 Squadron. My thanks to Sgt Appleby's family for contacting me in 2012.
Maurice Jones was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire on 18th February 1920 and was the son of William and Rose Hannah (nee Phipps) Jones. The family later moved to Tibshelf. While buried at Tibshelf, Derbyshire he is also commemorated on the No.1128 (Crosby) Squadron ATC memorial, Merseyside some distance from his parents recorded residence at the time of his death. I would welcome more information on his life.
Wilfred Burnett pictured in the cockpit of a Hampden. He was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada on 8th November 1915. Before joining the RAF he had worked on a diary farm in Canada and learnt to fly in Canada before travelling to the UK and joining the RAF. He was granted a short service commission in the RAF on 5th September 1937 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation, he was graded as P/O on 12th July 1938 and having trained as a pilot was posted to 49 Squadron flying Hampdens in 1939. He was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 12th January 1940 and completed a Tour with 49 Squadron, for which he was awarded the DFC Gazetted on 22nd October 1940. There was no citation as such but Hugh Halliday's Canadian awards research has located the recomendation for the DFC dated 28th August 1940 which stated "This officer has carried out a total of 32 operational flights against the enemy during which he has completed 187 hours of flying as a first pilot. Throughout these operations Flying Officer Burnett has shown outstanding ability, determination and devotion to duty, and has always pressed home his attacks in spite of enemy opposition. He has carried out numerous mining operations and bombing attacks, both from low and high level, and in spite of his aircraft being hit on many occasions all his attacks have been notable for their thoroughness, coolness and complete disregard for personal safety. This officer is always an enthusiastic volunteer for any task that is offered to him, and he has at all times set an excellent example to other pilots in his squadron." After completing his first Tour he served as an instructor for a time at an OTU before being posted to 408 Squadron. He was promoted to F/Lt (war subs) on 12th January 1941 and rose to become a Flight Commander with 408 Squadron before being injured in the accident in the Yorkshire Dales in January 1942, at this time he was in the rank of Acting S/Ldr. Again Hugh Halliday has located extra information in that he was recommended for the Bar to the DFC on 27th January 1942 although this was never awarded to him. Dispite this it is also worthy of including here and it reads..
"This officer has flown a total number of 44 sortie on operations involving some 264 hours flying. He has flown eight sorties involving some 44 hours flying since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was posted to No.408 Squadron (RCAF) in July of last year..... Unfortunately this officer crashed returning from his last sortie and was injured. On all occasions this officer has shown great determination and leadership. This has been directly responsible for the successful results he has obtained. In particular, on the 17th and 21st September 1941, he led a sub-formation of three Hampdens on daylight raids over northern France, one on Marquise and one on Lille respectively. The raid on Lille was most successful. Although he encountered heavy flak and fighter opposition, this officer kept his section in perfect formation and returned without loss. At all times he has set a fine example by his courage and devotion to duty to the personnel of his flight."
He spent a long period of time recovering from his injuries sustained in this accident and during which he rose to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st March 1942. When he was fit to return to active service he became a member of the staff officers at No.3 Group HQ before volunteering to return to operations with 138 Squadron as Commanding Officer in 1944. He was promoted to W/Co (war subs) on 20th August 1943. For service with 138 Squadron he was Mentioned in Despatches on 8th June 1944, awarded the DSO (Gazetted on 25th March 1945) and awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm (on an unknown date). The citation for his DSO reads.. "This officer has commanded his squadron with outstanding success for a considerable period. During this time the squadron has been engaged in intensive operations. In addition to proving himself an efficient and capable commander, Wing Cdr. Burnett has, at all times, displayed keenness to fly on operations, irrespective of the hazards involved. On several occasions he has had combats with enemy fighters. His courage and determination have always been an inspiration to those under his command."
Post-War he remained in the RAF being granted the rank of S/Ldr on 17th March 1947 (seniority of 1st September 1945), he was promoted to W/Co on 1st January 1951. He was awarded the AFC, Gazetted on 2nd January 1956 and also Mentioned in Despatches in 1956 (precise date not yet known). He flew Valiants with 148 Squadron as their Commanding Officer in Suez and was Mentioned in Despatches on 23rd January 1968 before a number of senior positions in the RAF. He was promoted to Acting G/Cpt on 1st January 1957, G/Cpt on 1st July 1957, Acting A/Cdre on 28th January 1962 and finally to A/Cdre on 1st July 1963. He retired from the RAF on 21st May 1968. On leaving the RAF he was appointed secretary of the Unit Trust Association and awarded the OBE on 14th June 1980 for this work. A/C Wilf Burnett DSO, OBE, DFC, AFC died at the age of 91 on 26th November 2006. His son published a biography of his father's life entitled "The Best of Lives" and I thank him for contacting me in 2007.
My wife and I searched for the site in April 2006 but found nothing and in September 2009 Ken Reast, Eric Barton, Alan Hudson, Kevin Corcoran and myself searched for the crash site but again we found nothing.
Graham Sharpe and Nick Roberts were luckier thirty years before my attempts at finding the site, they located this site in 1980 and small parts where to be found. The grass probably concealed any sign of the crash in 2009.
A small part with a typical Hampden part number picked up at the crash site by Nick Roberts in 1980.