On 9th November 1942 the crew of this 408 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a fighter affiliation exercise, during the exercise the aircraft stalled and crashed at 15.30hrs near Low Birkby Farm, near the village of Birkby. It was thought that the aircraft had been put into a too violent a turn during the exercise and the stall had occurred. At the time of this accident 408 Squadron were in the process of converting from flying the Hampden to flying the Halifax type, the accident saw the squadron's first Halifax fatalities and Halifax DG238 was the first Halifax MkV written off by Bomber Command.
Pilot - P/O Ronald George Bell DFM RCAF (J/17824), aged 27, of Victoria, British Columbia. Buried Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire (H/384).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Arthur Ernest Fuce Giles RAFVR (1333184), aged 20, of Medstead, Hampshire. Buried Medstead Cemetery, Hampshire (grave 587).
Navigator - Sgt Douglas Dean Gardner RAFVR (1391822), aged 20, of Bishopric, Horsham. Buried Horsham (Hills) Cemetery, Sussex (block S/359).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ian Fowler Stewart McColl RAAF (406544), aged 29, of Nedlands, Western Australia. Buried Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire (H/387).
Air Gunner - P/O Philip Malcolm Matthews RCAF (J/11847), aged 22, of Langruth, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire (H/385).
Halifax DG238 was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd., at Speke. It was taken on charge by 408 Squadron on 12th October 1942 at Balderton when conversion from Hampden MkI's commenced. On 20th September 1942 408 Squadron moved to Leeming. It was destroyed following the crash at Birkby on 9th November 1942 with Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage being the damage assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on the same date. Air historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast located small fragments on the surface at the crash site near Low Birkby Farm in January 1999 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location. The photographs shown below are of fragments retained by Eric to identify the wreckage by and were been passed to me to find a home for.
Small fragments including propeller covering, perspex and bakerlite.
Although damaged slightly larger fragment has a "57.. Halifax part number which is just about discernible.
Ronald Bell was born in Kelowna, Saskatchewan, Canada on 5th June 1915 and was the son of James Valentine and Nancy Eleanor (nee Cannell) Bell. His parents were born in Northumberland and the Isle of Man respectively. He and his family later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where he started work as a salesman in 1937 but later moved to Edmonton for another job as a salesman. He was living in Edmonton when he enlisted for RCAF service on 17th December 1940. He trained as a pilot in Canada and was awarded his Wings on 13th September 1941. He was posted to the UK in October 1941 and on arrival he trained at 17 OTU, 1511 BAT Flight and 21 OTU. He was posted to 408 Squadron on 12th May 1942. He was awarded an immediate Distinguished Flying Medal for service with 408 Squadron for one specific incident in August 1942, notification appeared in the London Gazette 22nd September 1942 and the citation reads.. "One night in August 1942 this airman was the pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Duisburg. Whilst over the target area his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter from close range. Diving steeply, Sergeant Bell evaded further attacks but his aircraft sustained extensive damage. The elevator, port ailerons and fuselage were all pierced, the port petrol tanks were riddled while the hydraulics were shot away and one of the gun cupolas was smashed. The wireless operator was injured and Sergeant Bell was badly cut on the right hand by splintered perspex. Despite this he made another run over the target and bombed it. Shortly after leaving the target area one of the engines failed and the aircraft spun towards the ground. Sergeant Bell, however, skilfully regained control and eventually flew his damaged bomber back to an aerodrome in this country where he executed a skilful crash landing. In face of harassing circumstances this airman displayed great courage and devotion to duty." He received his commission on 13th September 1942 to the rank of P/O. His brother James Valentine Bell served in the RAF during WW2 and was in India during 1942.
Douglas Gardner was working in the Engineering Department of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Ltd, in London when he joined the RAF in 1941. He trained in South Africa and was later posted to 408 Squadron. The photograph of his grave was found on the "Hiddenhorsham.co.uk" website.
Ian Fowler Stewart McColl was born on 18th April 1913 in Mildura, Victoria, Australia to Scotish immigrants. He enlisted in the RAAF on 6th January 1941 at Perth and was living in Hollywood, Western Australia at the time, he was working as a sheep and cattle station oversee but had done a number of jobs prior to this. After basic training in Australia he was posted overseas and upon arrival in the UK he was posted to No.1 Signal School on 29th January 1942 and then to 14 OTU on 17th March 1942. After completing his training he was posted to 408 Squadron on 9th July 1942 who were flying Hampdens at the time. The RAAF casualty file lists the accident as occurring "five miles east of Gramtham", I have no idea where Gramtham is, the crash site is five miles west of the village of Scorton! He left a wife and young child. I thank Mrs Irene Mercer for contacting me in 2011 and for the additional information she was able to provide this account, her husband's great uncle was F/Sgt Ian McColl.
Philip Matthews was born in MacGregor, Manitoba, Canada on 22nd June 1922 and was the son of Gordon and Elizabeth (nee Griffiths) Matthews. As a young man he worked in farming and as a carpenter. He enlisted for RCAF service on 26th August 1941 in Winnipeg and after training received an air gunner's flying badge and also a commission on 25th May 1942. He was posted overseas in June 1942 and after training at No.7 AGS he arrived at 408 Squadron. The training units he served at in the UK are missing from his service card.