At 10.35hrs on 29th December 1942 this 77 Squadron aircraft took off from Elvington airfield at 10.35hrs so the crew could carry out a navigation exercise combined with a practice bombing and photograph flight. With the exercise complete the crew were making for a landing. It flew over the runway at Elvington and steadily lost height from 700 feet down to 300 feet as it crossed with the nose raised. The aircraft was then seen to level out, make a flat turn but the port wing then dropped and it spun into ground near Dunnington at 15:28hrs. All on board were killed. It was thought that the port outer engine had failed and that the pilot lost control of the aircraft while making the turn.
Pilot - F/Sgt John Orr RAF (655146), aged 24, of Paisley, Renfrewshire. Buried Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alexander David Boyle RAFVR (996348), aged 24, of Bonnybridge, Falkirk. Buried Camelon Cemetery, Falkirk, Stirlingshire.
Navigator - P/O Cyril Arthur Saunders RAFVR (130443), aged 34. Wife of Edgbaston, Birmingham. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Bomb Aimer - P/O John MacLennan RAFVR (127119), aged 29. Buried Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff, Glamorganshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Douglas Charles Godfrey RAFVR (1168510), aged 22, of Stockland Green, Birmingham. Buried Witton Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Casey RAFVR (1348582), aged 22, of Mexborough. Buried Mexborough Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Victor Green RAFVR (1485704), aged 32, of Rosehill, Wallsend. Buried Holy Cross Cemetery, Wallsend, Northumberland.
Halifax DT631 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered to 45 MU on 21st November 1942. It was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 14th December 1942 but was destroyed in the accident near Dunnington on 29th December 1942. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on the same date.
I thank Mr Phil Godfrey for contacting me and supplying this photograph of hi uncle who was sadly killed as a result of this incident.
Cyril Saunders' grave at Barmby Moor. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 31st August 1942.
Alexander Boyle's gravestone posted online by "APANDERSON".
John MacLennan received a commission on a currently unknown date, searching the London Gazette for the service number given on CWGC returns a totally different person. My thanks to Jackie" for this photograph.
John Orr's family grave in Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley.