On 21st July 1942 this 35 Squadron aircraft was being given an airtest and put through a series of three steep turns at around 1200 feet, the first two turns were successfully carried to port and then starboard, during the third turn to port the aircraft was believed to have stalled and dived into the ground with control being lost. The aircraft crashed into a small field near Catterton, Tadcaster at 12.04hrs and all nine in the aircraft were killed. The crash investigation believed that rudder overbalance trouble was probably the cause for the control being lost, this was a common cause of early Halifax accidents until the rudder was modified. More modern accounts detailing this incident claim that one of the engines caught fire prior to the crash and that before the flames could be put out the fire spread and control of the aircraft was lost. There is no evidence of that on the RAF's accident record card. As stated nine people were in the aircraft were killed, these numbers included two Army personnel who had gone on the airtest for flying experience who were probably members of a searchlight battery close to Linton on Ouse. Both passengers were from Penistone, in the West Riding of Yorkshire and this was probably a double tragedy for their home community.
Pilot - Sgt Thomas Craik Murray RAFVR (1365896), aged 19, of Markinch. Buried Markinch Cemetery, Fifeshire, Scotland.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Arthur Thomas Wharfe RAF (567426), aged 23, wife of Radford, Coventry. Buried Keresley Churchyard, Warwickshire.
Navigator - Sgt Peter Mitchell Thurgood RAFVR (1312235), aged 26, of Headlington, Oxford. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Harry Hibbert RAFVR (117003), aged 27, of Sutton in Ashfield. Buried Sutton in Ashfield Cemetery, Nottinghamshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Harold Richard Giddens RCAF (R/66046), aged 21, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Stanley Allan Keen RAF(AuxAF) (844873), aged 26, of St.Albans. Buried St.Albans Churchyard, Hertfordshire.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt William Warren Craig RCAF (R/63057), aged 29, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. Buried Newton on Ouse Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Passenger - Sgt William Henry McBurney (Royal Artillery, 43 Searchlight Reg. (5th Bn The Duke of Wellington's Reg.)) Aged 42, of Penistone. Buried Stottercliffe Cemetery, Penistone, Yorkshire.
Passenger - Sgt Amos Roebuck (Royal Artillery, 43 Searchlight Reg. (5th Bn The Duke of Wellington's Reg.)) Aged 32, of Penistone. Buried Netherfield Congregation Chapleyard, Penistone, Yorkshire.
Halifax R9489 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 28th February 1942. It was immediately returned to Radlett for remedial work and with this completed it was returned to 35 Squadron at Linton on Ouse on 8th March 1942. As a result of the accident near Catterton on 21st July 1942 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off on 25th July 1942.
William Warren Craig was born on 16th October 1912 in Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada and was the son of Samuel and Harriet Elizabeth (nee Williston) Craig. He had worked as bank clerk after leaving school in 1929 and then worked in a grocers from 1933 until joining the RCAF. He enlisted for RCAF service on 14th October 1940 in Edmonton, New Brunswick and trained as an air gunner, receiving his air gunner's badge on 21st July 1941. On arrival in the UK he tranined at 2 AGS and 10 OTU before posting to 35 Squadron on 18th June 1942.
Graves of the other two who were buried at Newton on Ouse churchyard, Yorkshire (which are my photographs and copied onto "www.findagrave.com" by Stephen Farnell without permission).
Harold Giddens was born on 6th March 1922 at Mepal, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and was the son of Henry and Ada Maud Marin (nee Walker) Giddens. He and his family emigrated to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada when he was young. In November 1939 he attempted to join the RCAF but was rejected as he was too young. He had just left high school when enlisted for RCAF service in Niagara Falls on 24th June 1940 training as a wireless operator / air gunner in Canada, gaining his air gunner's badge on 15th February 1941. He arrived in the UK the following month he then trained at 10 OTU beginning 7th June 1941 and was posted to 35 Squadron on 29th September 1941.
Sgt Keen was buried in St.Albans and this photo of his grave was found on Flickr.
Sgt Wharfe's father was S/Ldr T C Wharfe who himself was a serving RAF officer in 1942. Possibly Thomas Charles Wharfe who served the Equipment Branch of the RAF.
Harry Hibbert received a commission on 10th January 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).