Halifax at Skipton on Swale
On the 5th August 1944 the crew of this aircraft were returning from Ops to St Leu and the pilot was preparing to land back at
Skipton on Swale. On approach an engine failed, the aircraft crashed into the village square at Skipton on Swale and was only halted by
a mature tree. Sadly along with two airmen a five year old boy was killed, being unable to run clear.
The story has it that Sgt R Beaudette, the crew's
regular rear gunner had been injured in a car crash (with the pilot killed in the incident) and at the time of this Operation was
waiting for a lift to hospital in the village square when the aircraft crashed near him. He ran clear but was shocked to find out
it was his own crew who had just crashed. The pilot had also sustained injuries in the same car crash as the rear gunner but he had
recovered from these injuries faster and had resumed flying. The story has it that leg injuries made
operating the rudder hard for him.
Pilot - F/O James R Harrison RCAF, of Crossfield, Alberta, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (Sec E, Row A, Grave 3).
F Eng - Sgt Dennis L Whitbread RAFVR, aged 22, of Kempston, Beds, buried Kempston.
F/O's Kinder, Widenoja, Dufreane and Bourne and P/O Godfrey were injured in the crash.
James Harrison RCAF and his gravestone.
Perhaps one of the youngest civilians to lose their lives as a result of an air accident in Yorkshire was five old Kenneth Battensby. He is buried in Skipton on Swale churchyard.
The scene of the crash.
The site today.
A memorial stone and plaque is to be found at the crash site.
