On the 14th November 1943 this aircraft took off from its base at Marston Moor to be given an airtest. Soon after take off the aircraft's two starboard engines failed and only three minutes after take off and out of control the aircraft crashed into a brick lined pond behind the former Vale of York Hotel by the side of the A59 road and apparently disappeared into the ground. The pond was excavated in the mid-2000's and made into a widelife pond, it was during these works that some remains were dug out, along with old cars and rubble. Of the five on the aircraft one was fortunate to have sustained only minor injuries, his four crew mates sadly were not and all were killed in the crash. As with many Halifax aircraft crashes in Yorkshire, many local people in Kirk Hammerton believe this aircraft to have been a Lancaster, this however was not the case, it was a Halifax.
Pilot - F/O Terence McKinley DFC RNZAF (402544), aged 21, of Wellington City, New Zealand. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Pilot - S/Ldr Peter J Emerton RAF (37762), aged 26, of Sheerness, Kent. Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery (grave AA, 49).
F Eng - P/O Norman N (Bubs) Beale RAFVR (53081), aged 22, of St Leonards on Sea. Buried Hastings Cemetery, Sussex (Div. M. Sec. F. Row F. Grave 24).
Gnd Crew - AC1 George H Harrison RAFVR (1611886), aged 21, of Thurnscoe. Buried Dearne (Thurnscoe) Cemetery (Sec. J. Row B. Grave 41.)
Gnd Crew - AC2 T D McCormack RAFVR, minor injuries.
F/O McKinley's gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. He had completed a Tour with 102 Squadron and was awarded his DFC for this, Gazetted on 17th August 1943. The citation states that "he is an outstanding captain" and "his fine fighting spirit, courage and leadership have gained him the entire confindence of his crew." He was born in Nelson in 1922 and was working as a clerical cadet in the Government Housing Construction Dept. and had joined the RNZAF in July 1940.
Peter Emerton was granted an appointment to a short-service commission in the RAF on 20th April 1936 to the rank of Acting P/O on probation. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on 17th February 1937 and posted to 26 Squadron at Catterick on 1st May 1937. The date of when he rose to F/O is not yet known but he rose to F/Lt on 3rd September 1940 and to S/Ldr (temp) on 1st September 1941.
Norman Beale received his commission on 8th August 943 to P/O on probation (emergency).
Remaining wreckage under a holly bush near the crash site. My thanks to Mr Ian Donnison for this photograph, who discovered the parts during a garden party.