On the 19th of August 1943 the crew in this aircraft took off from Riccall at 10.50hrs to undertake a cross country flying exercise. Five minutes later and while flying at about 1000 feet this aircraft collided with another Halifax which had just taken off from Rufforth airfield. After the collision this aircraft banked steeply to port and climbed steeply before diving into the ground near Copmanthorpe to the south-west of York and sadly all on board both aircraft were killed. The rear gunner of this aircraft was seen to attempt to bail out but his parachute did not deploy properly and he was killed. On impact burning fuel was spread over a wide area and covered two civilians. The younger of the two probably saved his elders life by beating the flames out. Both spend many months in hospital.

Mr Brian Mennell's book "Wings Over York" gives a good account of this incident and he has found a number of witnesses to the crash. I do not wish to copy his work but would suggest anyone with an interest in Rufforth airfield read it.

Pilot - Sgt Terrance C Ashley RAFVR (1337699), aged 20, of Runsam, Barnstaple. Buried Barnstaple Cemetery.

F Eng - Sgt Thomas R McMeekan RAFVR (1568151), aged 20, of Dennistoun, Glasgow. Buried Riddrie Cemetery, Glasgow.

Nav - Sgt Albert J Allan RAFVR (1459143), aged 23, of Liverpool. Buried Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool.

BA - F/O Robert (Bob) F Walker RAFVR (129607), aged 19, of Leytonstone. Buried City of London Cemetery, Manor Park, London.

WOp/AG - Sgt John J O'Brien RAFVR (1030890), aged 24, of Hacketstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland. Buried Templehollow Graveyard, Ballina, Tipperary, Ireland.

AG - Sgt Frederick Cosford RAFVR (1163277), aged ? Of ? Buried Dallington Cemetery, Northampton.

AG - Sgt Douglas L H Wooster RAFVR (1603969), afed 19, of Harrow. Buried Alperton Burial Ground, Wembley, London.

Sgt John Joseph O'Brien and his headstone (both photographs appear here thanks to Ms O'Brien). The CWGC register lists his names incorrectly, they show Joseph John, where as his family knew him as John Joseph.

Sgt Ashley (photo via Ms O'Brien).

Robert Walker (photograph was kindly supplied by Mr Don Archer). Mr Archer adds that after enlisting with the RAF Oxford Reserve in June 1941 Bob Walker was granted a temporary commission on 28th August 1942 (to P/O on probation (emergency)) and was then promoted to Flying Officer on 28th February 1943. Bob initially sought to become a wireless operator (having picked up Morse code in the Boy's Brigade) but did well in aircrew training and was awarded his Air Bomber half-Wings. Prior to training at 1658 HCU he trained at 19 OTU at Forres, Scotland. Bob is buried in Square 241 in Collective Grave 108020 and commemorated on Panel 18 of the Screen War Memorial in the City of London Cemetery, Manor Park, London.