Halifax LW396 near Raskelf, Easingwold.

The crew of this Halifax were returning from a raid on Berlin on 15/16th February 1944, the aircraft had taken off from Tholthorpe at 17.25hrs on 15th February. They attacked the target successfully and made for home but while on their return the altimeter began to play up and the wireless failed. The weather over Tholthorpe had closed in after the aircraft left base and fog was over the area. Due to the radio fault the crew were not aware of an order to divert to another base to land because of this poor weather. The aircraft made three attempts at landing and all three resulted in overshoots. At 00.50hrs and on the fourth attempt on going round again the aircraft flew into the ground near Raskelf, killing two of the crew and three were seriously injured with two others less severe. Sunbeck railway signalbox's record book stated that the aircraft crashed onto the line between Sunbeck and Husthwaite Gate (a distance of 3 miles, 32 chains). From this information and other information from Police records, it would appear that the aircraft struck the ground to the south of the Pilmoor to Coxwold stretch of the railway line near Throstle Nest Farm, to the north west of Raskelf and caught fire. It had been in the air for almost seven and a half hours. A brief entry on the Tholthorpe O.R.B. records the incident "420 Squadron aircraft crashed on landing. Two killed."

The names of those killed in this accident were..

Wireless Op / Air Gunner - WO1 Lloyd L Whale RCAF (R/93150), aged 25, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Buried on 21st Feb 1944.

Air Gunner - Sgt Bernard Downey RCAF (R/183176), aged 23, of Doyles, Great Codroy, Newfoundland. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Buried on 21st Feb 1944.

Those who survived were..

Pilot - F/O Harold E Damgaard RCAF (J/24475), Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada. Injured.

Flight Engineer - Sgt F V Harvey RAF, injured.

? - F/Sgt G J Masur RCAF, injured.

? - F/O A M Taylor RCAF, injured.

? - Sgt S Fletcher RCAF, injured.

Bernard Downey and his gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.

Lloyd Whale's gravestone. His family report that he begun his training on 15th February 1941 and after he graduated he took part in coastal patrols of Chatham, New Brunswick. He was posted to England in May 1943. His tour was to have ended in April 1944 less than two months after this accident, when he was to return home and marry in August 1944, this was not to be however. He had a brother Russell Whale RCN who served on board HMS Sheffield. His father served in the First World War, being injured in 1916.

Harold Damgaard had a total of 270 hours flying time when this crash occured, of these forty hours were on the Halifax type. He was later awarded the DFC for service with 420 Squadron, the award being effective from 1st December 1944. He was born in Kamloops, British Columbia in 1914 and lived in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. He was a bus driver prior to enlisting in Vancouver on 17th October 1940. He was commissioned in 1943. There was no citation for the DFC other than "..in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations against the enemy." Hugh Halliday's research into RCAF awards has located the recommendation for the DFC dated 12th September 1944 when he had flown thirty six sorties (172 hours 35 minutes flying time) in a tour dating between 7th October 1943 to 9th September 1944. Reference is also made to a crash on his first operational sortie; this was a "nickel" flight to Beauvais on 7th October 1943 and he was probably injured, his next sortie was not until 27th January 1944 (as a 2nd pilot flying to Berlin). The recomendation reads...

"Flight Lieutenant Damgaard on the completion of his first operational tour has proven himself to be a courageous and skilful captain of his aircraft. Undaunted by a serious crash which occurred on his return from his first operational flight, Flight Lieutenant Damgaard returned to operations, and on many heavily defended targets in Germany and France demonstrated his exceptional qualities of leadership and coolness in the face of enemy fire. This officer's tenacity, endurance and fine offensive spirit have set a high standard of morale within the squadron and it is strongly recommended that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross."

Harold Damgaard passed away on 26th April 1990, aged 76 years, he lived at Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

An Air Bomber Arthur McLellan Taylor was killed on 9th April 1945 serving with 408 Squadron, there is a possibility of him being the same man as on board the 420 Squadron aircraft crash described above, having recovered from his injuries. This needs further research to confirm either way however.
I would like to thank the family of Bernard Downey for contacting me and for the photograph of him they kindly provided this account, I also thank my father for the addition of the railway record.
Halifax LW396 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4/C by English Electric Company Ltd at Salmesbury this aircraft was then delivered directly to 420 Squadron at Dalton on 23rd November 1943. The aircraft moved with the unit to Tholthorpe on 11th December 1943. It sustained Cat.E2/FB Burnt damage on 16th February 1944.