Halifax BB390 near Trowbridge Farm, Ness, near Kirkbymoorside.

This aircraft crashed landed on the 2nd January 1945 near Ness soon after it had taken off from Wombleton for a practice bombing exercise over Pickering bombing range. As the aircraft got to 2000 feet the port outer engine failed, the pilot feathered this and turned back for base but soon afterwards the starboard outer engine also failed and the aircraft began to loose height rapidly, the undercarriage was then lowered. With returning back to Wombleton not an option as too much height had been lost at 23.35hrs he crash landed the aircraft on a field afew miles short of the runway. The aircraft caught fire and burnt out and although the crew had made good their escape one airman sustained slight injuries. As regard blame, the flight engineer was said to have been at fault for selecting the wrong fuel tanks. This is probably the aircraft from which a Merlin was excavated in the 1980s, I have been unable to contact the gentleman, a Mr Pillow, who dug it up to confirm this.

Pilot - P/O Richard A Reith RCAF.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Tom H Lightly RCAF.

Navigator - Sgt Jim R D Baker RCAF.

Bomb Aimer - P/O Theodore Neil "Ted" Boehk RCAF.

Wireless Operator - Sgt R C Wilkes RCAF.

Air Gunner - Sgt Linc D Johnson RCAF.

Air Gunner - Sgt Jack Sklar RCAF.

Left to right. Lightly, Wilks, Boehk, Reith, Sklar, Baker and Johnson (all RCAF). They later completed their training and went on to serve with 426 Squadron. This photograph is taken from Richard Koval's 6 Group website "www.rcaf.com/6group" and is supplied through Mr D Nicholson, nephew of F/Sgt Johnson. Ted Boehk died in 1999 and prior to his death he lived in Westville, Nova Scotia, Canada.