During the night of 10th / 11th October 1942 the crew of this No.16 Operational Training Unit aircraft were detailed to undertake a night cross country training flight over Northern England. The exact route for the flight is not listed in accident records though by 23.15hrs the crew had just reached and made a turning point location, probably Flamborough Head. They transmitted a radio signal stating this but shortly afterwards the aircraft lost height and flew into trees that form North Cotes Plantation near Fordon. Sadly all on board were killed. Exactly why the crash occurred was not fully understood. Because the crew had been in radio contact and had not mentioned anything in respect of a problem with the aircraft moments earlier this was discounted. It was considered likely that the crew may have been looking for a landmark at the time and that when the pilot turned the aircraft it stalled, then dived into the ground. Three of the crew were taken for burial in Filey Churchyard on 20th October 1942. Filey historian Mr Lee Norgate confirmed the location and was able to recover items from the site with an MoD licence in 1995. His YouTube channel gives an interesting video of the incident.
Wellington BK257 had a very brief history, it was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden, Chester and was received by 48 M.U. at Hawarden on 12th September 1942. It was immediately taken on charge by No.16 Operational Training Unit at Upper Heyford on 25th September 1942 but destroyed in the crash on 10th October 1942 near Fordon. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 18th October 1942.
Pilot - Sgt John Ferguson RAFVR (1331595), aged 20. Buried Limpsfield Churchyard, Surrey.
Observer - Sgt Robert George MacDonald RAFVR (1380294), aged 33. Buried Filey Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Air Bomber - Sgt John Anthony Fox RAFVR (1382178), aged 20. Buried Wandsworth Cemetery, Streatham, London.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Donald Roy Robertson RCAF (R/98882), aged 21. Buried Filey Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Bruce Harry Sparrow RCAF (R/86211), aged 20. Buried Filey Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Three of the crew were buried in Filey Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Donald Robertson was born on 28th August 1921 in Unity, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of Roy Clifford and Myrtle Evelyn (nee Clarke) Robertson. Donald left high school in 1939 and between leaving school and enlisting for RCAF service he worked on a number of farms in Saskatchewan. He enlisted for RCAF service in Saskatoon on 6th May 1941 and after training in Canada he was awarded his Air Gunner's flying badge on 30th March 1942. A few weeks later he was posted overseas and on arrival in the UK he trained at No.4 Signals School and No.2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit before posting to 16 Operational Training Unit on 4th August 1942. The Robertson Lake in Saskatchewan is named in Sgt Robertson's honour.
Bruce Sparrow was born on 17th April 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and was the son of George William and Flora Ann (nee McKinnon) Sparrow. His father was born in Birmingham and his mother was born on the Isle of Lewis but both had immegrated to Canada where his father worked as a chauffeur but died when Bruce was a boy. Bruce attended high school and then undertook a further college course before beginning work in Winnipeg in August 1940 as a fireman. He enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg on 27th December 1940 for aircrew duties, he trained as an air gunner in Canada and was awarded his flying badge on 13th April 1942. He was then posted to the UK and then trained at No.7 Air Gunnery School before posting to 16 Operational Training Unit on 4th August 1942.
John Fox was born on 1st July 1922 and enlisted for RAF service on 19th November 1940.
John Ferguson was born on 17th August 1922 and enlisted for RAF service on 7th January 1941.
Robert MacDonald was born on 27th February 1909 and enlisted for RAF service on 7th October 1940.