Halifax EB256 near Flixton, Scarborough.

On the night of 28/29th January 1944 the crew of this aircraft were tasked an operational flight to bomb Berlin and they took off from Croft airfield near Darlington at 23.50hrs. 677 aircraft were taking part in the raid, with 241 Halifax's making up part of the numbers with broken cloud was reported over Berlin. While over the target area the aircraft was attacked by a a fighter which knocked out the port outer engine and holed at least one fuel tank. The crew bombed the target and made for home however as they crossed the Yorkshire Coast the fuel supply was nearly exhausted and starboard inner engine cut out. The pilot ordered his crew to bale out and he was last to leave the aircraft in the Filey area. The aircraft crashed just north of Flixton at around 08.00hrs. The rear gunner is thought to have released his parachute too soon or it had fouled the aircraft as he left, the parachute caught on the tail of the aircraft and he only became free when the chute tore. Sadly this did not break his fall and he was killed on impact with the ground. The remaining crew landed safley although one other sustained minor injuries. The pilot and navigator were later awarded the DFC's and their citations refer to this incident.

Halifax EB256 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd at Speke, Liverpool and delivered directly to 434 Squadron at Tholthorpe in July 1943. It moved with unit to Croft in December 1943 and was written off as a result of this incident with Cat.E2/FB damage being recorded on the aircraft.

Killed was:

Rear Gunner - Sgt Joseph W R Demers RCAF (R/19959), aged 21, of Quebec City, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Survived were:

Pilot - P/O Murray F Flewelling RCAF (J/18927), of Calgary, Canada. Uninjured.

2nd Pilot - F/Sgt Edmund A (Ted) Vigor RCAF (later J/85758), initially from Blagdon, Somerset, England, late of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. Uninjured.

Flight Engineer - P/O Richard N Dobney RAFVR (170655). Slightly injured.

Navigator - F/O Donald R Hutcheon RCAF (J/21893), of Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada. Uninjured.

Bomb Aimer - P/O Robert (Bob) J Brown RCAF, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Uninjured.

WOp/AG - Sgt S Thompson RAF. Uninjured.

Mid Upper Gunner - P/O J Clayton RAF. Uninjured.

Sgt Demer's gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Part of the crash site was dug on licence some years ago and a buried collection of some of the larger items on the aircraft were recovered, this included a Browning machine gun which was, I am told by locals, was later taken away by the police as it had not been registered. With the landowner being unwhitingly involved in this police matter and the hole not being made good he has quite understandably restricting access to the field when further air historians sought to locate the crash site to record the location. The aircraft is believed to have come down in the field shown above. The recovered items from the dig are thought to have been located buried in a hole rather than being found where they fell.

The photograph above shows F/Lt Flewelling and part of his crew (two of which were on board at the time of this incident at Flixton). The photograph depicts 434 Squadron's 1000th's mission was flown by crew No.23. F/L Murray Flewelling, W/O Bob McCunn, F/O Don Hutcheon and P/O Bob Brown are shown. (Photograph via Alan Soderstrom's website.)

W/Co Francis Watkins RCAF (left) and F/Lt Murray Flewelling RCAF (right) standing in front of Halifax LW175 "WL-Q, The Queen". This photograph must have been taken after August 1944 as MZ921 it was not delivered to the RCAF until August 1944.

Murray Flewelling was born in Calgary in 1919 and was a clerk prior to enlisting there on 1st August 1942. He was later commissioned in 1943. On 4th October 1943 He and crew (varying slightly from the crew above) lost a hatch on take-off, they carried out their flight to Kassel, Germany with the temperature in the aircraft going to minus 32 degrees. He was recommended for the DFC on the 20th June 1944 and at this date he had flown twenty nine sorties (just over 162 hours flying time) between 12th August 1943 and 10th June 1944. It appeared in the London Gazette on 1st August 1944 and F/Lt Flewelling was awarded his DFC by King George VI on 11th August 1944 during a visit to Middleton St.George. The citation for his DFC does not add as much detail as the recommendation, Hugh Halliday's research into RCAF awards has located both. The recommendation refers in the main to the Flixton incident, it reads..

"This officer has been with the squadron since its formation, and has completed a total of twenty-nine sorties. Twelve of these operations have been against heavily defended targets in Germany. While over the target on one of his attacks on Berlin [28 January 1944], his aircraft was attacked by a fighter and the fuel tanks punctured. He successfully carried out his mission and displayed exceptional skill, fearlessness and dogged determination in extricating his aircraft from a perilous situation. He completed a hazardous and perilous return journey, safely bringing his aircraft over home soil. With the petrol supply completely exhausted he was unable to reach an airport. With complete disregard for his personal safety he kept his aircraft aloft until his crew had safely baled out, then abandoned it by parachute. His crew undoubtedly owe their lives to the outstanding fortitude and skill of this officer. This officer's efficiency, zealous devotion to duty, exceptional fearlessness and magnificent leadership are an inspiration and praiseworthy example of the highest order."

Where as the citation reads.."This officer has participated in very many sorties, most of them against heavily defended targets. He is a highly skilled member of aircraft crew whose fearlessness and determination have greatly inspired his crew. He has set an excellent example."

Donald Hutcheon was born in Davidson, Saskatchewan in 1922 and enlisted in regina in October 1941. He was commission in 1942. For service with 434 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944, the citation also refers to the incident at Flixton, it reads..

"This officer has participated in many sorties, the majority of which have been against heavily defended German targets. On one occasion his aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter and the petrol tanks holed, causing a serious shortage of petrol. Flying Officer Hutcheon worked out a shorter course back for the return flight which enabled the crew to leave the aircraft by parachute over this country. Throughout his tour this officer has maintained a high standard of courage, cheerful confidence and devotion to duty."

Richard Dobney received his commission on 16th December 1943 to P/O on probation (emergency). Every other account of this incident at Flixton refers to his rank as being Sergeant. The entry in the London Gazette would dispute that. He rose to F/O (war subs) on 16th June 1944 but left the RAF on the grounds of medical unfitness on 25th November 1945. 170655

P/O Edmund Vigor and his crew were killed on 28th April 1944 when Halifax LL258 which he was piloting was shot down over Belgium on Ops to Montzen. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down by a night-fighter piloted Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (the highest scoring Luftwaffe night-fighter pilot in the War) and crashed in the vicinity of Nurop & Teuven, Belgium. Ted Vigor is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. The above photograph shows Ted Vigor (far right just in shot) and two other members of his then crew.