On the night of 23rd / 24th October 1942 this 425 Squadron aircraft had flown an operational flight to bomb Genova and on their return to England had landed at Elsham Wolds airfield. After a short time on the ground and presumably after re-fuelling it took off again with the aim on returning to base at Dishforth. The aircraft was seen flying normally at 500 feet above the ground when the starboard wing dropped and it then dived in the ground on the Yorkshire Wolds at 09.40hrs near High Hunsley. All five on board were sadly killed. An investigation followed and came up with no definitive answer as to why the crash occurred, it was thought possible the dinghy may have come out of the stowage in flight and may have been a contributing factor had this happened. All the crew appear to have received promotions after their deaths and their ranks after promotions are shown below.
Pilot - WO2 Wilbert Francis Bauer RCAF (R/78791), aged 22, of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Observer - F/Sgt Joseph Philippe Bedard RCAF (R/77303), aged 26, of Sainte-Helene-de-Bagot, Bagot County, Quebec, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Joseph Ludovic Rodolphe Simoneau RCAF (R/77458), aged 21, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Joseph Joffre Marc Seguin RCAF (R/82658), aged 26, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Joseph Paul Albert Boyer RCAF (R/69361), aged 22, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wellington BJ958 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was awaiting collection in August 1942. It was received by 46 MU on 12th August 1942 and was then taken on charge by 425 Squadron at Dishforth on 27th August 1942. As a result of the crash on 24th October 1942 the aircraft was written off with Cat.E2/FA damage being recorded after assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on 31st October 1942.
Wilbert Bauer was born on 12th July 1920 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Louis and Otilda (nee Bender) Bauer. As a young man he worked as a clerk, initially in a family buisness; E F Bauer Ltd, Waterloo and then as a clerk for Dominion Life insurance company in Waterloo. He enlisted for RCAF service in London, Ontario on 10th December 1940 and after training in Canada he was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 13th September 1941. On arrival in the UK he spent time at 3 SFTS, 5 SFTS, 1520 BAT Flight and 23 OTU before posting to 419 Squadron on 23rd June 1942. This posting was a short one as he was then posted to 425 Squadron on 10th July 1942.
Joseph Bedard was born on 26th April 1916 in Manseau, Quebec, Canada and was the son of Joseph Elie and Elmire (nee Lemey) Bedard. The family later lived at Sainte Helene-de-Bagot, Quebec. After attending high school in Quebec City he then went to Marist College in Washington DC, USA to study philosophy and to prepare to be a priest. He left this course before completing it and was not working when he enlisted for RCAF service on 30th October 1940 in Montreal. After training in Canada he was awarded his air observer's badge on 31st January 1942. On arrival in the UK in March 1942 he trained at 23 OTU and his service record states he was then posted to 93 Squadron (on its reformation) on 2nd June 1942 but they flew Spitfires and I suspect had little use for trained navigators! He was then posted to 419 Squadron on 24th June 1942 and finally to 425 Squadron on 12th July 1942.
Joseph Boyer was born on 24th September 1920 at North Bay, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Arthur and Marguerite (nee Montigny) Boyer. As a young man he was employed in a theatre before starting work as an ore sampler at a (gold?) mine. He enlisted for RCAF service in North Bay on 3rd January 1941 and trained as a air gunner in Canada, receiving his air gunner's badge on 22nd December 1941. He was engaged to be married to ACWN Doreen Monie RCAF just prior to leaving Canada for service in the UK. On arrival in the UK he trained at 7 AGS and 23 OTU before posting to 425 Squadron on 5th August 1942.
Joseph Simoneau was born on 24th April 1921 at St.Marcel, Quebec, Canada and was the son of Elphege and Palmona (Leclere) Simoneau. His father had died in a drowning accident when he was just four months old. He enlisted for RCAF service on 3rd December 1940 at Montreal. He trained as a wireless operator / air gunner with his air gunner's part to his flying badge being awarded on 7th November 1941 after the wireless operator part. Arriving in the UK in December 1941 he then trained at 1 S.S. followed by 23 O.T.U. before posting to 419 Squadron on 24th June 1942. He was then posted to 425 Squadron on 12th July 1942.
Joseph Seguin was born on 29th July 1916 at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Napoleon and Marie-Anne (Charbonneau) Seguin. As a young man he worked as a drug clerk. He enlisted for RCAF service on 22nd January 1941 in Ottawa and after training as a wireless operator / air gunner he was awarded the air gunner's part to his flying badge on 11th October 1941, the wireless operator part had already been qualified for. He arrived in the UK soon after and following training at 1 S.S. and 23 O.T.U. he was posted to 419 Squadron on 24th June 1942. He was then re-posted to 425 Squadron on 16th July 1942.
Historians Eric Barton, Albert Pritchard and Ken Reast sought permission from the landowner of the general area of the crash site in January 2002 and then field walked the area locating fragments of the aircraft on the surface to confirm the location.