Yorkshire Air Casualties - Postwar V.E.Day 1945 to 1949.

Below is believed to be a complete list of all air fatalities between May 1945 and December 1949 and links to the incident in which the casualties sadly lost their lives.There has never been a list of flying accidents made for the whole Yorkshire region and I doubt that I have listed them all despite my best efforts. I would welcome information or basic details to begin to research the incident myself.


17th May 1945 - B-17G 44-8683 - Kettlewell.

Pilot - 1st Lt Harry Joseph Cole USAAF (O-805402), aged 22. Buried Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge (D/5/37).

Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt Vance Lamar Ferguson USAAF (O-787796), aged 22. Buried Gravel Ridge Cemetery, Gravel Ridge, Arkansas, USA.

Navigator - 2nd Lt James Milton Young USAAF (O-2077543), aged 22. Buried Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge (F/5/86).

Engineer - Sgt Hoyt Edward Dixon USAAF (14050440), aged 22. Buried Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge (D/7/37).

Wireless Operator - S/Sgt Dario Battista USAAF (32453589), aged 27. Buried Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge (F/4/33).


28th May 1945 - Wellington HE226 - Conistone in Wharfedale.

Pilot - W/O Edward Cyril Cole RAFVR (1445279), aged 23. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Navigator - Sgt James Mann RAFVR (1810780), aged 21. Buried Bells Hill Burial Ground, Hertfordshire.

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Arthur John Griffiths RAF(AAF) (859551), aged 32. Buried Kimbolton Churchyard, Herefordshire.

Wireless Operator - Sgt John Duncan RAFVR (1826025), aged 21. Buried Piershill Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Air Gunner - Sgt Herbert Henry Rawnsley RAF(AAF) (809198), aged 25. Buried Burmantofts Cemetery (Beckett Street), Leeds, Yorkshire (3/16429).


29th May 1945 - Spitfire PV318 - Full Sutton.

Pilot - F/Lt Kenneth James Banks RAFVR (150200), aged 21. Buried Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery, Kent.


29th May 1945 - Mustang 44-72181 - Denshaw.

Pilot - 1st Lt Harold H Frederick USAAF (O-812408), aged 23. Buried Odd Fellows Cemetery, Clay, Kentucky, USA.


6th June 1945 - Halifax ID? - York.

Civilian - Mr George William Simpson, aged 14. Burial location unknown.


8th June 1945 - Halifax JP203 - Clifton, York.

Pilot - F/Lt Ian James Alexander Cruickshanks RAFVR (80819), aged 26. Buried Leamington Milverton Cemetery, Warwickshire.

Flight Engineer - F/Sgt Victor Henry Clare DFM RAFVR (1605068), aged 20. Buried Fulford Cemetery, York.


5th July 1945 - Spitfire AR386 - Market Weighton.

Pilot - F/Lt Basil Douglas Sparks RAFVR (128904), aged 24. Buried Epsom Cemetery, Surrey.


10th July 1945 - Slingsby Falcon ID? - Sutton Bank.

Pilot - Mr Joseph Hassall, aged 38. Burial location unknown. Possibly cremated Lodge Hill Cemetery and Crematorium, Birmingham.


14th July 1945 - Lancaster PD287 - Wharram Percy.

Pilot - F/Sgt Sydney Philip Bell RAFVR (1389006). Aged 27. Buried Wakefield Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Navigator - Sgt Lawrence William Garfield RAFVR (1815298). Aged 23. Buried Quinton Cemetery, Warley, Birmingham.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Henry Jacob Plastow RAFVR (1824870). Aged 20. Buried Piershill Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Percy John Allsebrook RAFVR (1574022). Aged 21. Buried Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Stanley Welsh RAFVR (1597250). Aged 19. Buried Harelaw Cemetery, Stanley, Durham.

Air Gunner - Sgt Roy Charles Thomas Goldthorpe RAFVR (1893883). Aged 20. Buried Bexleyheath Cemetery, London.


24th July 1945 - Mustang KH569 - Hull.

Pilot - F/O Edward James McCabe RCAF (J/43858), aged 21. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (H.K.14).


29th July 1945 - Barracuda MD963 - Marsden.

Pilot - Sub Lt (A) George Henry Ambler RNVR (HMS Merlin), aged 18. Buried Sheffield (Wisewood) Cemetery, Yorkshire.


30th July 1945 - Halifax RG482 - Pocklington.

Pilot - F/Lt Stanley Bernard Dalmais RAFVR (132796), aged 32. Buried Pocklington Burial Ground, Yorkshire (U.46.3128).

Navigator - Sgt Robert Dashwood Frost RAFVR (1818309), aged 20. Buried Swithland Churchyard, Leicestershire.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt James Milne RAFVR (1569994), aged 22. Buried Alyth Cemetery, Perthshire.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Raymond Leonard Williams RAFVR (1837245), aged 20. Buried Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery, Glamorganshire.

Wireless Operator - Sgt Walter Hall Bradshaw RAFVR (2209908), aged 20. Buried Salford (Weaste) Cemetery, Lancashire.


3rd August 1945 - Spitfire MJ411 - Leven / Catfoss area.

Pilot - F/Sgt Thomas Jeffery RAF (570389), aged 24. Buried Rawdon (St.Peter) Churchyard, Yorkshire (D.439).


30th August 1945 - Mosquito HX824 - Kirklevington.

Pilot - F/O Peter Ernest Nolan RAFVR (153510), aged 21. Buried East Harnham, Wiltshire.


30th August 1945 - Mosquito HJ703 - Croft.

Pilot - Sgt Donald Lindsey Lamb RAFVR (1584843), aged 20. Buried Barrow upon Soar Cemetery, Leicestershire.


30th August 1945 - Firebrand EK635 - Brough airfield.

Pilot - 1st Officer James Richard Burton ATA (704), aged 30. Buried Selby Cemetery, Yorkshire (Grave 5512).


16th September 1945 - Spitfire SM278 - Osmotherley.

Pilot - F/Lt John Burleigh Compton Catterns RAFVR (144938), aged 22. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.


9th October 1945 - Stirling LJ622 - Tockwith.

Pilot - F/O Sydney Harold Bunting RAFVR (172231), aged 22. Buried Faversham Borough Cemetery, Kent.

Bomb Aimer - F/O Herbert Kenneth Griffiths RAFVR (164899), aged 22. Buried Southgate Cemetery, Middlesex.

Navigator - Sgt Ronald Alec Alexander RAFVR (1851213), aged 21. Buried Colbury Churchyard, Hampshire.

Wireless Operator - W/O Albert Edward Bonass RAFVR (1898979), aged 34. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.K.11).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Raymond Victor Viall RAFVR (1629417), aged 21. Buried Bexley Churchyard, Kent.

Air Gunner - F/O John Cantle-Jones RAFVR (184301), aged 31. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.K.10).


29th October 1945 - Halifax RG561 - Deighton.

Navigator - S/Lt Jacques Victor Wellard FAFL (4437), aged 27. Initially buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Now buried at Brookwood Cemetery (29.B.11)

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Henri Jacques Andre Prades FAFL (36925), aged 23. Initially buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Burial location unknown, France. Commemorated in the UK on the Maidenhead Register.


5th November 1945 - Lancaster RA571 - Beamsley.

Pilot - F/O Walter Fred Conley RCAF (J/85141), aged 25. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Flight Engineer - F/Sgt Arnold Emerson Stinson RCAF (R/272834), aged 20. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Bomb Aimer - F/O Wallace Ewing Lang RCAF (J/43946), aged 22. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Passenger / Aero Instrument Mechanic - Cpl William John Ellis RCAF (R/153918), aged 30. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.


10th January 1946 - Mosquito NT544 - Keld.

Pilot - F/Lt Thomas Abel Roskilly RAFVR (136211), aged 23. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Navigator / Radar Operator - F/Sgt Sydney Arthur Whiting RAFVR (1630314), aged 22. Buried Charlton Cemetery, Greenwich, London.


11th January 1946 - Spitfire AD413 - Balkholme.

Pilot - F/O John Harris DFC RAFVR (177913), aged 24. Buried Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool (19.CofE.1946).


29th January 1946 - Mosquito NT241 - East Moor airfield

Navigator - F/Lt Kenneth Ian Thornton DFC RAFVR (146255), aged 23. Buried Bells Hill Burial Ground, Barnet, Hertfordshire.


31st January 1946 - Mosquito HJ731 - Hornby.

Pilot - F/O Stanley McInytre Blackhall RAFVR (167252), aged 21. Buried Edinburgh (Corstorphine Hill) Cemetery (F.595).


10th May 1946 - Halifax PP349 - Whixley.

Pilot - S/Ldr Kenneth Searby Stammers DFC AFC DFM RAF (65989), aged 31. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (H.L.3).

Wireless Operator - W/O David Robert Jones RAFVR (1076904), aged 33. Buried Rhyl Town Cemetery, Flintshire.

Flight Engineer - F/O William Ian Harvey RAFVR (176669), aged 21. Buried Markinch Cemetery, Fife.

Passenger / Ground Staff (Compass Adj) - F/Sgt Sonny Fox RAFVR (1893152), aged 20. Buried East Ham (Marlow Road) Cemetery, Essex.

Passenger / Fitter - LAC John Charles Simpson RAFVR (1530898), aged 22. Buried Newark upon Trent Cemetery, Nottinghamshire (F.303A).

Passenger / Fitter - LAC Glyndwr Pritchard RAFVR (1653762), aged 22. Buried Merthyr Tydfil (Pant) Cemetery, Glamorganshire.

Passenger / Fitter - LAC Hampton Sharling RAFVR (1500420), aged 23. Buried Childwall Churchyard, Liverpool (C.315).


27th June 1946 - Wellington BK214 - Hutton Cranswick

Pilot - W/O Kenneth Hinchliffe RAFVR (1622193), aged 22. Buried Marsden (St.Barts) Churchyard, Yorkshire(6.1F) (pilot)

Wireless Operator? - F/Lt Allenby Mathers RAF (137309), aged 26. Buried Springbank Cemetery, Aberdeen (X.30A).

Air Gunner - W/O Harry Edwards RAF (618706), aged 26. Buried Streatham Park Cemetery, Sussex.

Air Gunner? - F/Sgt Roy Ernest Kenneth Hancock RAFVR (3000141), aged 20. Buried Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium (X.345).

Air Gunner? - F/Sgt Joseph Ricketts RAFVR (1570052), aged 22. Buried Stirling (Ballengeich) Cemetery (F.154).

Passenger (Office Clerk) - AC2 Sidney Howard Ballard RAFVR (2297456), aged 19. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.L.15).


27th June 1946 - Spitfire TE229 - Hutton Cranswick

Pilot - F/O James Edward Harrison RAFVR (181799), aged 21. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.L.16).


28th June 1946 - Mosquito TA549 - Thornton le Street.

Pilot - F/Lt Ladislav Sestak RAFVR (153502), aged? Burial location unknown. Commemorated on the Maidenhead Register. Body re-patriated to the former Czeckoslovakia.

Navigator? - F/Lt Bohumil Volf RAFVR (S/No?), aged 28. Burial location unknown. Commemorated on the Maidenhead Register. Body re-patriated to the former Czeckoslovakia.


24th July 1946 - Wellington BJ895 - Wykeham

Pilot (Instructor?)- WO Roland Harrison RAFVR (1606786), aged 25. Buried High Wycombe Cemetery, Buckinghamshire.

Air Gunnery Instructor - F/Lt John Christopher Haldon MiD RAFVR (161008), aged 26. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Air Gunner - WO Frederick Charles Stiff RAFVR (931202), aged 34. Buried Hartest Cemetery, Suffolk.

Air Gunner - F/Sgt Peter Ingram RAFVR (1604044), aged 22. Buried Fulham Palace Road Cemetery, London.

Wireless Operator / Mechanic (Air) - WO John Forest Armstrong RAFVR (1867735), aged 21. Cremated Darlington, Co.Durham.


26th July 1946 - Wellington BJ884 - Appleton le Moors

Pilot - W/O Henryk Szwedowski RAF (P/780128), aged 45. Buried Newark Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.

Passenger - Cadet William Anthony Lain (1796), aged 17. Buried York Cemetery.

Passenger - Cadet Robert Hall (116), aged 16. Cremated Lawnswood Crematorium, Adel, Leeds. Commemorated Screen Wall Panel 1.


26th July 1946 - Spitfire SL676 - Appleton le Moors.

Pilot - F/Lt Stanley McAndrew RAF (48716), aged 26. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.


13th September 1946 - Meteor EE490 - Scorborough.

Pilot - S/Ldr Eric Percy William Bocock DFC RAF (61215), aged 27. Buried Leconfield Churchyard, Yorkshire.


11th October 1946 - Halifax PP362 - Baldersby

Wireless Operator - SigII Maurice Henry Hewlett RAFVR (1890451), aged 22. Buried Dagenham Churchyard, Essex.

Navigator - W/O Francis John Porritt DFM RAFVR (629863), aged 28. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.L.13).

Flight Engineer - W/O Arthur Gallagher RAFVR (1083529), aged 24. Buried Dipton Churchyard, Durham.


8th November 1946 - Mosquito NT266 - Pockley Moor.

Pilot - S/Ldr Noel Dan Hallifax RAF (33404), aged 27. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Navigator/Radar Operator - F/O Roy Edward Chater RAFVR (194286), aged 21. Cremated Mitcham, South London.


9th November 1946 - Mosquito MM809 - Sutton under Whitestonecliffe.

Pilot - P/O Micheal James Alan Smith-Pearse RAF (58032). Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Pupil Pilot (/ Passenger) - P/O Phillip Gough Norton RAF (58145). Buried Hagley Cemetery, Worcestershire (B/86).


25th January 1947 - Mosquito NT512 - Kirkby Fleetham.

Pilot - F/O Frederick William Charles Harris RAFVR (201634), aged 25. Buried Croyden Cemetery, London (PP.40005).

Passenger / Fitter - Sgt Ernest Anthony Gill RAF(AAF) (809178), aged 25. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (G.O.12).


7th May 1947 - Wellington RP520 - Garton on the Wolds.

Pilot - F/Lt Vincent Sydney Walker RAFVR (120936), aged 27. Buried Muston Churchyard, Leicestershire.

Navigator - Sig.II Colin Hardwick RAFVR (1592854), aged 21. Buried Eston Cemetery, Yorkshire (P.68).


20th September 1947 - Ground accident - Leconfield airfield.

Cadet Reginald Graham Robinson ATC (1603), aged 15. Buried Hull Western Cemetery, Yorkshire (Compt 136/13271).


21st November 1947 - Hornet PX233 - Church Fenton.

Pilot - P/O George Turner RAF (59291), aged 26. Buried Nottingham Northern Cemetery (N/19.1).


20th December 1947 - Hornet PX282 - Linton on Ouse.

Pilot - F/O Charles Cowood RAFVR (196541), aged 23. Buried City Road Cemetery, Sheffield, Yorkshire (NN.15118).


13th January 1948 - Wellington RP555 - Topcliffe airfield.

Pilot - P2 (W/O) William Frederick Barber RAF (1614255), aged 25. Buried Market Harborough Cemetery, Leicestershire.

Signaller - Sig2b (W/O) Kenneth John Feary RAF (1813068), aged 23. Buried Highgate Cemetery, London.

Passenger - AC1 Peter Arthur Lindus RAF (3088756), aged 19. Cremated Thornton Road Crematorium, Croydon, London.


17th March 1948 - Wellington RP499 & RP565 - Topcliffe airfield.

Pilot - F/Lt Franciszek Kula MM RAF (P/2204), aged 34. Buried Newark Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.

Pilot - Pilot II Colin Bass RAF (1603236), aged 25. Buried West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

? - Signaller II Walter Ernest Leslie Howell RAF (1023588), aged 27. Buried Bedwellty Churchyard, Argoed, Monmouthshire.

? - Signaller II Arthur Edward Highman RAF (1333571), aged 25. Buried Norwood Cemetery, West Norwood, London.

? - F/Lt William James Jones RAF (153310), aged 25. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.

? - F/Lt Robert Sneddon Laird RAF (149193), aged 31. Buried Bo'ness Cemetery, West Lothian.

? - F/Lt Harry Corelius New RAF (165262), aged 26. Buried Uplands Cemetery, Smethwick, Staffordshire.

? - F/Lt John Edge Kerslake RAF (182652), aged 24. Buried Topcliffe Cemetery, Yorkshire.


16th April 1948 - Harvard KF245 - Eggborough.

Pilot - P.2 Frank Austin Wilkinson RAF (1524016), aged 23. Buried Rake Lane Cemetery, Wallasey, Cheshire (5.C.263).

Passenger / Fitter - AC1 Michael Gaunt RAF (579845), aged 20. Buried Lawnswood Cemetery, Adel, Leeds, Yorkshire.


13th June 1948 - Mosquito NT423 - Finningley.

Pilot - F/O James Atterby McCairns DFC and 2 Bars, MM RAF (125754). Aged 28. Buried Retford Cemetery, Nottinghamshire (CC.81).

Passenger / Fitter - AC2 Edward Shaw RAFVR (2321296), aged 19. Buried Dipton Cemetery, Newcastle.


29th June 1948 - Mosquito RR292 - Garton on the Wolds.

Pilot (Instructor) - F/Lt John Birch RAF (195089), aged 27. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire (6239).

Pilot (Pupil) - P.IV Maurice Alfred Johnson RAF (3000597), aged 22 of Bexley Heath, Kent. Burial location not known.


5th December 1948 - Mosquito RS698 - Garton on the Wolds.

Pilot - P.IV Robert Gillespie RAF (3020613), aged 23. Buried Knadgeranll Cemetery, Girdle Toll, Ayrshire.

Navigator - N.2 Peter McLaren RAF (1564083), aged 32. Buried Meigle Churchyard, Perthshire.


13th December 1948 - Mosquito RL197 - Kettlewell.

Pilot - P/O Anthony Guy Bulley RAFVR (3031532), aged 23. Cremated St.Marylebone, East Finchley, London.

Navigator - F/Lt Brian Orlando Bridgman RAFVR (165418), aged 24. Buried Leeming Churchyard, Yorkshire.


13th February 1949 - Spitfire PK617 - Commondale.

Pilot - P/O Kenneth Roland Jeffrey RAF(Aux) (2686064), aged 24. Cremated Darlington, Co.Durham.


8th March 1949 - Mosquito RR298 - Huggate.

Pilot (Pupil) - P.IV Michael Brenton Birks RAF (3046060), aged 20. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire (grave 1088).


27th July 1949 - Kirby Kite ID? - Linton on Ouse.

Pilot - F/Lt Walter George Dent RAF (182932), aged 46. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.


28th July 1949 - Firebrand ID? - Brough airfield.

Engineer - Mr Thomas Dixon, aged 23. Buried Hull Northern Cemetery, Yorkshire.


30th July 1949 - Dragon Rapide G-AIWZ - Welton.

Pilot - Captain Patrick James Winch, aged 32. Buried Elloughton (St.Mary) Churchyard, Yorkshire.

Passenger - Mr Ivor Wrigglesworth, aged 38. Died of injuries. Burial location unknown.


19th August 1949 - Dakota G-AHCY - Greenfield, Oldham.

Pilot - Captain Frank Wortley Pinkerton, aged 36. Buried St Peter's Churchyard, Bishopsworth, Bristol.

Co-Pilot - First Officer Gordon Holt, aged 26. Buried St Mary's Cemetery, Taunton, Somerset.

Radio Operator - Radio Officer Richard Willis Haigh, aged 46. Buried West Derby Cemetery, Liverpool.

Passenger - Mr Willie Ashton, aged 50. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Sarah Marguerite Baird, aged 36. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Elsie Holt Barclay, aged 47. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Miss Jean Minnie Barclay, aged 13. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Cyril Beenstock, aged 22. Buried Rainsough Jewish Cemetery, Prestwich, Manchester.

Passenger - Miss Dorothy May Brimelow, aged 19. Killed. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Derek Harry Clark, aged 25. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Margery Davis, aged 49. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Master Roger Alan Evans, aged 1. Buried Redhill Cemetery, Arnold, Nottingham.

Passenger - Miss Bridget Anne Farrell, aged 19. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr George Stephen Gisby, aged 56. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Miss Ivy Gwendolen Jones, aged 48. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Hubert Stanley Lea, aged 42. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Henry Bryce Prestwich, aged 38. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Joan Prestwich, aged 37. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Miss Elizabeth Ann Prestwich, aged 10. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Miss Jane Caroline Prestwich, aged 7. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Elizabeth Schofield, aged 59. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Beatrice Elizabeth Sydall, aged 49. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mrs Edna Vickery, aged 23. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Master David Vickery, aged 3. Burial location unknown.


29th August 1949 - Proctor G-AKLC - Baildon

Pilot - First Officer Valois Marcial Ramiro Garcia-Salas, aged 31. Burial location unknown. Possibly Lambeth, London.

Passenger / Engineer - Mr Rowland Ransome, aged 26. Buried Garforth Cemetery, Yorkshire (B.158).

Passenger / Airfield labourer - Mr Clarence Allsop, aged 33. Burial location unknown.

Passenger - Mr Peter Derek Hardman, aged 18. Buried Liverpool Road Cemetery, Birkdale, Merseyside (C2-1).


16th September 1949 - Master DL981 - Widdop.

Pilot - P1 Reginald Brasington Price RAF (1339581), aged 27. Buried East Molesey Cemetery, Surrey (1277).

Passenger - F/O Sydney Inman Rowe RAF (58062), aged 32. Burial location unknown.


15th November 1949 - Meteor VW448 - Kirkburn.

Pilot - P.2 Peter Curtis Rees RAF (1654289), aged 25. Buried Barry Cemetery, Glamorgan.


Back to yearly selection.