On 14th April 1942 102 Squadron were in the process of converting from Whitleys to Halifaxes and this was their first fatal Halifax accident on home soil. The aircraft had taken off from Dalton airfield in the mid-morning for an airtest prior to being used operationally, while carrying out a series of sharp turns the aircraft stalled and spun into the ground at 12.46hrs near to the A1 road at York Gate Farm, Baldersby. Sadly all eight on board were killed and part of the wreckage caught fire. Initially the cause of the crash was thought to have been the result of changing pilots in the air but later this was discounted. Being one of the "new" Halifaxes the rudder overbalance problem was later blamed for the pilot losing control. Such an effect caused the deaths of many airmen before the fault was seen and a modification carried out to the tail plane. The crash was witnessed by workmen carrying out work on removing a level crossing on the A1 road near Baldersby station.

Halifax R9488 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 24th February 1942. It was delivered to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th February 1942 and on 9th April 1942 it was transferred to 102 Squadron at Dalton. As a result of the crash near Baldersby on 14th April 1942 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on the same day.

Pilot - F/Lt Harry Malcolm Williams RAFVR (66508), aged 26, of Brook, Ashford, Kent. Buried Smeeth Churchyard, Kent.

Pilot - Sgt John Kirkpatrick Morris RAAF (404251), aged 21, of Nundah, Queensland, Australia. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Noel Grimoldby RAF (575319), aged 19, of Scunthorpe. Buried Scunthrpe (Brumby & Frodingham) Cemetery, Lincolnshire.

Observer - Sgt Philip Leonard Newell Trehearn RAFVR (947664), aged 28, of Rhyl. Buried Rhyl Town Cemetery, Flintshire, Wales.

Air Gunner - F/Lt Henry Noel Ross RAF(AAF) (90393), aged 33, of Penarth. Cremated Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth Harold Sutton RAFVR (918861), aged 23, of Blaegarw. Buried Ogmore & Gare Cemetery, Glamorganshire, Wales.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Kenneth O'Connelley RAFVR (946944), aged 22, of Esh, Co.Durham. Cremated West Road, Newcastle on Tyne.

Ground Crew - LAC John Livesey RAFVR (1122012), aged 21, of Blackburn. Buried Lower Darwen Churchyard, Lancashire.

F/Lt Harry Williams was known by his middlename of Malcolm. This photograph came to me a number of years ago by 102 Squadron veteran Mr Ed. Cooke to whom I am most greatful for his information and recollections. Harry Williams was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 11th November 1915 the eldest son of Thomas Harry Williams, superintendent of E.E.A. & China Telegraph Company, and Natalie Williams of Brook, Kent. He was educated at Ash-Eton, Folkestone and at the King’s School Canterbury from September 1929 to April 1933 where he was The Grange. He received his commission on 10th February 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation. As was a common trainng route for pilots, he went to Canada and returned from Halifax on board the SS "Mosdale" and landing at Cardiff on 2nd April 1941. He rose to F/O (war subs) exactly a year after his commission date. His rank was almost certainly an Acting F/Lt capacity when he died. Sadly for the Williams family the brother of Harry died some eighteen months previously. P/O Lionel Williams RAF (42550) was serving with 233 Squadron and was piloting Hudson N7374 which left Leuchars to attack an airfield in occupied Norway. Their Hudson was damaged by enemy fighters and is believed to have crashed into the North Sea with the bodies never being found (source Ross McNeill "Coastal Command Losses 1939-41").

Sgt Trehearn was known as "Len" and I thank his son Mr Phil Trehearn for kindly supplying this image. Len Trehearn was born on 25th July 1913 at Rhyl. He survived the crash of Whitley Z6871 on the North Yorkshire Moors near Danby Head on 30th September 1941, my account can be seen here. Since uploading these initial pages a number of accounts into his life and career have sprung up on the internet all kindly provided by Phil Trehearn, his tireless work in keeping alive his father's memory in this way cannot be understated. Len's brother Vernon also saw service in WW2 in the RAF in India and their father flew in WW1.

John Morris was born on 3rd May 1920 and enlisted for RAAF service in Brisbane, Australia on 19th July 1940. The casualty file has an interesting series of letters relating to what occurred after his death. His fiance's family arranged for a cremation at Darlington on 18th April 1942 and after this the ashes were sent to Mr McDonell, in Aberdeen, who was father of the fiance. At that time the Government prohibited the repatriation of bodies and cremated ashes of aircrew to Australia so the family held onto the ashes with the intention of sending them after the war. This restriction remained in place in the post-war years but wanting the ashes interred the family contacted the RAF. Some confusion then occurred as it was found that the RAF had (in error) created a Form 1755 (Burial Return) on 17th September 1943 that stated John Morris was buried at Topcliffe Cemetery on 18th April 1943. It was then decided that this was an error. On 26th November 1947 his ashes were interred at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery but then a lengthy debate ensued as to whom would pick up the bill for the burial.

In August 2009 aviation historians Ken Reast, Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and I searched a large area of land for where this aircraft was believed to have crashed but sadly no trace of it was discovered. Our location came from police records which are usually very accurate but perhaps we were too late as the long awaited A1 motorway upgrade started some months before and I believe that the crash site may actually be under land that was already cleared and the site is now sadly lost. I also thank Mr Ed Cooke and Mr John Hamblin and I have drawn upon both gentlemens' research in creating this webpage.

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