Halifax JN953 near Claxton Hall, York.
On 12th June 1944 a Halifax on a training bombing exercise (probably over the Strensall Ranges) when the port outer engine
failed at 5000 feet, the pilot ordered his crew to bale out which they all did and he stayed with the aircraft to set about
making a forced landing. This was done at 00.35hrs, three hours fifteen minutes into the flight to the west of Claxton Hall,
north east of York. On crashing the aircraft caught fire, the pilot was pulled from the wreckage suffering from shock, burns,
broken back and ankle. He was taken to York Military Hospital where it is thought he recovered to some extent. One propeller
blade from the offending engine was found to be missing at the time of the crash, this may or may not have been the
reason for the engine failing in the first place. The rest of the crew were taken to East Moor airfield where it is believed that the
bomb aimer was treated for slight injuries following a heavy landing. This aircraft was the last Halifax MkII to be lost by a
front line squadron in the War. This crew had only just arrived at 428 Squadron having completed their course and left 1666 HCU
at Wombleton on 7th June 1944.
Pilot - F/O J Martin RCAF (J/28715), seriously injured.
Navigator - F/O A W Savage RCAF (J/28963), uninjured.
Bomb Aimer - F/O N M Blakely RCAF (J/28940), slightly injured.
WOp/AG - WO1 J A P Bourdage(s) RCAF (R/55896), uninjured. later Colonel of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada?
AG - Sgt John N MacDougall RCAF (R/137591), of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Uninjured.
AG - Sgt R D Morgan RCAF (R/258028), uninjured.
Flight Engineer - Sgt J A Crane RCAF (R/117206), uninjured.
John MacDougall was later posted to 426 Squadron but was sadly killed on 5th March 1945 when Halifax LW210 crashed in the centre of York
with the loss of all but the wireless operator. John MacDougall was twenty two years old and is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. He received
his commission after his death. This accident will be detailed on this website in due course.
The aircraft was damaged by flak on 21st/22nd January 1944 when it was attacked by an un-identified
twin engined aircraft on Ops to Magdeburg. Its crew were able to return safely to base and
land and after inspection some eighty holes were found in the aircraft.
I believe that I have located this crash site on land now part of Sandburn Hall golf course.
Halifax JN953 was built to contract B124357/40 by The London Passenger Transport Board Ltd at
Leavesden and delivered directly to 419 Squadron at Middleton St.George in late September 1943. It transferred on
an as yet unspecified date to 428 Squadron also at Middleton St.George in early 1944. It was written off as a
result of this incident detailed above with Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage being recorded.