Halifax EB205 near Sowerby, Thirsk.
The scene of the crash taken at the time and in 2004. (Photos Mr L Green)
On the 15th of April 1944 the crew in this aircraft and others from the same training unit were taking
part in evening cross-country training exercises. This aircraft was returning to base at Dishforth at
around 23.00hrs when the weather made a turn for the worse, it was raining very heavily at the time and this aircraft was also having
trouble with both its port engines. The aircraft overshot its approach to Dishforth and climbed
out for another attempt at landing here, this would have been hard on two engines. I understand that during the
climb out to go round again the pilot noticed the landing lights were on at nearby Topcliffe airfield and then made the decision to
make a landing there instead. Because of poor visibilty he then overshot the runway at Topcliffe and at about 23.05hrs
crashed into a row of houses next to the main East Coast railway line next to the Sowerby to Topcliffe road bridge where upon the wreckage caught fire.
The photograph above-right shows the crash scene, the aircraft was flying right to left at the time of the impact and although not visable from this photograph the
house still shows sign of its rebuild; the tiles are not a matching colour to the originals.
The four airmen who survived the initial crash were dragged
clear by local farmers Mr Alfred Rooke and Messers Tom and Cecil Starr. Airmen Pearce and Tynski
were taken to the Military Hospital at Northallerton. The two occupants
of the cottage were also killed in the crash and were initailly taken to Thirsk Mortuary to await burial.
Another man cycling on the road on the way home from the pub also lost his life in the accident, he was simply in the wrong place
at the wrong time. The bomber's engines blocked
the LNER railway line for some time causing long delays.
Halifax EB203 crashed soon after this incident
and was on the same training exercise, this incident is also detailed on this website.
Pilot - F/O Donald R "Bud" Holloway RCAF (J/25803), aged 21, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Seriously injured and died later, buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
FEng - Sgt Henry G C Powell RAFVR (1894686), aged 20, of Balham, London. Killed in crash, buried Wandsworth (Streatham) Cemetery, London.
BA - F/O Stewart W Jobson RCAF (J/27433), aged 25, of Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. Killed in crash, buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
AG - Sgt Kenneth French RCAF (R/197655), aged 21, of Creston, British Columbia, Canada. Killed in crash, buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
WOp / AG - F/O James H Smith RCAF (J/18558), aged 25, of Nairn Centre, Ontario, Canada. Seriously injured and died later, buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Nav - F/O Samuel H J "Harry" Pearce RCAF (J/27505), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Injured but survived the crash.
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt John W Tynski RCAF, aged 26 at the time. Injured but survived the crash.
The civilians were:
Mr Albert G G Stone, aged 48, of Topcliffe Road Bridge, killed. Burial location unknown.
Mrs Clara Stone, aged 62, Topcliffe Road Bridge, killed. Burial location unknown.
Mr James McNulty, aged 36, of Curradraish, Foxford, Co. Mayo, Irish Republic. Irish Farm Labourer, killed. Burial location unknown.
Bud Holloway and his gravestone.
Sgt French's gravestone and photograph and a further photograph with his brother Charles. This photograph was taken the day the two were
arranging his brothers wedding to which Ken was to be best man. Apparently the first the family knew that there was a problem was when he failed to
turn up for his brothers wedding (Photos Mr C French, via Mr L Green).
Sgt Ken French with his friend Bill Constable (who would later became an RCAF pilot) harvesting peas at home in Canada. (Photos Mr C French, via Mr L Green).
Stewart Jobson and his gravestone.
James Smith and his gravestone.
F/O Pearce RCAF. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Pearce, of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Sadly, he was killed later in 1944 when the 434 Squadron Halifax he was flying
with crashed in Europe. This crash has been researched in great detail by Mr Leslie Green who has erected a memorial at that crash site.
Sgt Tynski RCAF. (Photo himself, via Mr L Green).
I visited the area of crash site area in September 2004.
I am told that small peices of the aircraft still remain in the field and on the railway embankment although searching for
them will be a risky job given the line is now the busy East Coast Main Line (and probably trespassing). The height of
field opposite was increased with spare soil after more modern road improvements.
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I am endebted to Mr Leslie Green for all the photographs of the crew and crash scene and for alot of the information detailing the crash itself.