Halifax JD106 at Wombleton airfield.

On 27th April 1944 this Halifax was awaiting clearance for take off for a Bullseye training flight at 23.17hrs and had the misfortune of being taxied into by Halifax JB859. Sadly the rear gunner of JD106 was killed in this incident. I assume that he was in his turret when the other Halifax struck it. The crew would become a well-decorated crew with 419 Squadron. The airman killed as a result of this accident was..

Rear Gunner - Sgt Ward T Falan RCAF (R/207621). Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

The other members of his crew were, but ranks are probably too senior when they were at Wombleton..

Pilot - F/O William R Chalcraft RCAF (J/16556), of Calgary, Canada. Uninjured.

Flight Engineer - Sgt J R Gunn RAF, uninjured.

Navigator - F/O James E Taylor RCAF (J/27472), of Fillmore, Saskatchewan, Canada. Uninjured.

Bomb Aimer - F/O Charles D Christian RCAF (J/27454), of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Uninjured.

WOp/AG - WO2 Paul E Bourassa RCAF (R/136575), of St Remi, Quebec, Canada. Uninjured.

Air Gunner - Sgt E G Legault RCAF, uninjured.

Sgt Falan's gravestone at Harrogate.

William Chalcraft was born in Calgary in 1919 and prior to enlisting into the RCAF he served in the Royal Canadian Artillery, he enlisted in Calgary in May 1941 and was commissioned in 1943. Following the incident detailed above his crew received a new rear gunner and completed their conversion training and were later posted to 419 Squadron. He would have a landing mishap at East Moor airfield in Lancaster KB735 later in the War (the incident is detailed on this website). On the night of 15/16th September his aircraft was hit by flak but he was able to return safely to base. For service with 419 Squadron he was recommended for the DFC on 17th January 1945 and had completed thirty five operational flights at the time (between 9th May 1944 and 25th September 1944, with 166 hours flying time). Notification of his DFC appeared in the London Gazette on 22nd May 1945, he was presented it by King George VI on 29th June 1945. The was no citation as such but the recommendation adds much more detail, it reads..

"Flight Lieutenant Chalcraft has taken part in 35 day and night attacks on the enemy. Many of these were in direct and indirect support of the Allied Ground Forces. He has invariably set an extremely high standard of crew captaincy and has shown great determination to attack the enemy despite the stiffest opposition they could muster. I consider the wholehearted devotion to duty and resolution shown by this officer fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Charles Christian was born in 1921 in Victoria and enlisted in Vancouver in May 1942. He was commissioned in 1943. With his skipper he was posted to 419 Squadron after completing his training at 1666 HCU. He too was recommended for the DFC on 29th September 1944 when he had flown thirty three operational flights between 22nd May and 25th September 1944 (159 hours flying time). Notification appeared in the London Gazette on 16th January 1945 but there was no citation as such, however Hugh Halliday has located the recommendation which reads..

"This officer has now completed 32 sorties and, throughout, his courage and devotion to duty has been outstanding. Flying Officer Christian's consistent determination to achieve accuracy in his bombing, and his exceptional interest in familiarizing himself with every detail necessary for the success of his operations, have made him an invaluable member of his crew and squadron. On precision targets his bombing results have been quite remarkable and he has secured no fewer than fifteen photographs plotted within 400 yards of the target. If circumstances demand it, he has made no fewer than three bombing runs to ensure steady and accurate bombing. When attacking heavily defended targets, he has never allowed enemy opposition to interfere with his bombing run and, under all circumstances, he has insisted on a steady and accurate approach. I consider the outstanding devotion to duty, the outstanding example and the complete disregard of personal danger shown by this officer fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Paul Bourassa enlisted in Quebec in December 1941 and at the time he lived in St.Remi, Quebec. He completed his training with his skipper and was also posted to 419 Squadron. Little is known about him apart from he received the DFC when Warrant Officer 2nd Class , it appeared in the London Gazette on 22nd August 1944. The Citation reads..

"Warrant officer Bourassa has participated in many sorties and has proved himself to be a determined and dependable member of aircraft crew, He has at all times shown the greatest keenness and his example of courage and devotion to duty has been worthy of great praise."

James Taylor was born in 1911 in Shebo, Saskatchewan but was living in Fillmore, Saskatchewan when he enlisted in Montreal in June 1942. He was commissioned in 1943. He was recommended for the DFC on 7th October 1944 when he had flown thirty three operational flights between 22nd May and 25th September 1944 (158 hours flying), it was granted and appeared in the London Gazette on 19th January 1945 and while the citation was a vague one Hugh Halliday's superb research has located the recommendation, it reads..

"Flying Officer Taylor has maintained an exceptionally high standard of determination, skill and navigational efficiency on a large number of operational sorties to the enemy's most heavily defended targets. On the night of May 24th, 1944, when attacking Aachen, Flying Officer Taylor found that his compass had veered over forty degrees for some little time. By his speed and accurate reactions to the situation, he put his aircraft back on track by the best possible means and so reduced materially the danger of his aircraft and crew. He has invariably shown great resource in maintaining a high degree of accuracy in the navigation of his heavy bomber and his enthusiasm and devotion to duty have set a very high example to the remainder of his crew and to the squadron as a whole. I consider the undoubted courage and enthusiasm that this officer has shown to attack the enemy fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Halifax JD106 was built to Contract 1808/C4/ by E.E.C. Ltd at Salmesbury and delivered to 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 22nd April 1943. It transferred on an unknown date to 1666 HCU at Wombleton in late-1943 and suffered Cat.A/FA damage in the incident detailed above. It was repaired on site only to be written off in a crash on the North Yorkshire Moors on 23rd June 1944 with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded. This loss is detailed on this website.