On the 7th February 1944 the crew of this aircraft took off for a day time training flight. At 10.15hrs and whilst flying in low cloud the aircraft flew into the top of Garrowby Hill, some miles to the west of Stamford Bridge, crossed a road and caught fire. Sadly the crew died as a result of the crash. A milk lorry happened to be travelling up the road at the time and the aircraft struck this lorry, the driver of which was also killed. One of the crew was able to escape from the burning aircraft and ran to rescuers for help, he was taken to York hosptial but sadly died soon after. A member of this aircrafts regular crew was in hospital at the time and had lost all of his crew, he would later complete his training and be posted to an operational squadron. It was through the efforts of this man, Mr Alun Emlyn-Jones, the crew's regular bomb aimer and through others that a memorial stone was erected at the crash site and unveiled on 8th May 1996.
Brian Mennell's "Wings Over York" book gives a superb account of this incident, I do not wish copy his work as the book is still available to buy and is well worth the the money. Many of the crew are pictured in this book.
On 1st August 1999 a ghostly figure thought to have been one of the crew was seen at the crash site who apparently spoke to a lady who had parked in the lay-by where the memorial is sited.
Instructor Pilot - F/Lt Alfred J S Hodson DFC RAFVR (130663), aged ? Of ? Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Trainee Pilot - F/Sgt Stanley Bright RAFVR (1042582), aged 22, of Westerhope. Buried All Saints Cemetery, Newcastle upon Tyne.
F Eng - Sgt John F Nelson RAFVR (1796160), aged 21, of Belfast. Buried Belfast City Cemetery.
Nav - F/O John K Meyler RAFVR (151321), aged 25, of Jarrow. Buried Jarrow Cemetery, Co.Durham.
WOp/AG - Sgt Kenneth Smith RAFVR (1577088), aged 22, of Hednesdford, Cannock. Buried Hednesford Churchyard, Staffordshire.
AG - Sgt Peter G McDonald RAFVR (1822055), aged 19, of Bearsden, Dunbartonshire. Buried Glasgow Western Necropolis.
AG - Sgt Sidney J Booker RAFVR (1866190), aged ? Of London. Buried City of London Cemetery, Manor Park, London.
Lorry Driver - Mr Arthur Wood Kirkby, aged 39, of 3 Carlton Street, Hessle Road, Hull. He worked for the London and North Eastern Railway and was a member of the Home Guard. His burial location is not yet known.
Alfred Hodson was commissioned on 25th September 1942 to P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O (war subs) on 25th March 1943. He had previously served with 76 Squadron and as Acting F/Lt was awarded the DFC after completing a Tour with that Unit which appeared in the London Gazette dated 7th January 1944, the citation reads..
"This officer has completed many sorties, involving attacks on various centres in the Ruhr and many other important targets in Germany. He is a fearless and skilful captain, whose determination to achieve success has always been apparent and his efforts have been worthy of great praise. His example has greatly inspired his crew."
John Meyler received his commission on 19th February 1943 to P/O on probation (emergency), rising to F/O (war subs) on 19th August 1943.
The memorial stone as photographed in July 2006.