Halifax W7766 at East Moor airfield.
On 14th October 1942 this 158 Squadron Halifax took off from East Moor to attack Kiel but whilst over the Selenter Sea the port inner engine was hit by flak, the bomb load was jettisoned
and the pilot turned the aircraft around and returned home. During the final stages of coming into land at East Moor in poor visibility the aircraft was barely controllable and it stalled whilst on the final approach. The aircraft caught fire on crashing at 00.50hrs in the area of Thrush House Farm, just to the north of East Moor airfield. The resulting crash caused injury to all seven airmen on board to some extent, the pilot and at least four other airmen were admitted to York Military Hospital, where one later died. The crash was also blamed on inexperience of the aircrew generally.
Pilot - Sgt William James McAlpine RCAF (R/93277). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt James Sangster Anderson RCAF (R/92560), aged 22. Died of injuries 17th October 1942. Buried Fulford Cemetery, York.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Herbert Davenport-Ellerby RAF (569530). Injured.
Navigator - Sgt Arthur Edmund Surridge RAFVR (1389368). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Campbell RAFVR (1068311). Injured.
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Ernest Bradley RCAF (R/108578). Injured.
Rear Gunner - F/Sgt Arthur Donald Lewis RCAF (R/92577). Injured.
James Anderson was born on 27th July 1920 in Craigmyle, Alberta, Canada and was the son of William Boyd and Dagnie (nee Sicker) Anderson. He was still a student when he enlisted for RCAF service on 13th February 1940 in Calgary, Alberta and after basic training was awarded his air observer badge on 20th December 1941. On arrival in the UK he trained at 9 AFU, 16 OTU and 29 OTU before posting to 158 Squadron (but was posted to 425 Squadron on 18th August 1942 for a day returning to 158 Squadron). Following this accident at East Moor on 15th October 1942 he was taken to York Military Hospital at Fulford where he died on 17th October 1942. His family lost two other sons as a result on the War. James Sangster Anderson's twin brother William "Billy" Boyd Anderson RCAF was lost on 20th January 1943 whilst serving with 407 Squadron when his aircraft failed to return from a flight over the sea, the aircraft probably crashed into the sea. His body was never found. He was also aged twenty two. Anderson Creek in Alberta is named after James Sangster Anderson, and Boyd Creek is named after his brother, William Boyd Anderson.
Another brother, F/Sgt Lloyd George Anderson RCAF, was killed on 31st March 1944 when the 625 Squadron Lancaster W5009 crashed near Hellenthal, he was initially buried locally but
he now lies at Rheinberg War Cemetery. He was twenty seven years old. Lloyd Creek, in Alberta is named after him. Mr Harry Sanders of Canada is researching these losses and informs
me that a book was written some years ago showing photographs of all three brothers. The Anderson of Craigmyle School was also named and opened locally in
memory of the three boys but has since been demolished.
Halifax W7766 was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was delivered as new to 158 Squadron at East Moor on 30th June 1942. On 13th July 1942 minor damage in the air but other than the armour plate needing to replaced the aircraft did not sustained any other damage. Cat.A/FA damage may have been a damage assessment made. It was then written off as a result of a crash at East Moor on 15th October 1942 with Cat.E2/FB damage being recorded after assessment. The aircraft completed eight operational flights with 158 Squadron. It was struck off charge on 19th October 1942.
William McAlpine was born on 7th July 1920 in Bancroft, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Thomas and Sarah Mable (nee Kennedy) McAlpine. He was working as a ledger keeper for the Bank of Nova Scotia, in Bancroft when he enlisted for RCAF service in Toronto on 18th February 1941 stating that he wished to train as an air gunner but was assessed as suitable for pilot training. After basic training he was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 7th November 1941 and also married Anna mary O'Shaugnessy a few days later. On arrival in the UK he trained at 1512 BAT Flight, 3 (P)AFU, 16 OTU and 29 OTU before posting to 158 Squadron Conversion Flight in August 1942. He was briefly posted to 425 Squadron (probably on its formation in the UK) but was posted back to 158 Squadron a day later. Having sustained minor injuries in the crash at East Moor on 15th October 1942 he flew with 158 Squadron until posting to 405 Squadron on 8th December 1942. WO2 William McAlpine was killed flying an operational flight to Essen on the night of 3rd / 4th April 1943 when Halifax DT808 was shot down by a nightfighter and crashed in Holland. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Holland.
Arthur Surridge received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 12th September 1943 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 12th March 1944. It is possible that he completed his Tour with 158 Squadron and was later posted to 105 Squadron. On 30th / 31st March 1944 some one with the same initials and surname was in Halifax HX349 on Ops to Nuremberg when it crashed in Germany and he was taken prisoner. Research is on going.
Thomas Campbell eventually received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 28th April 1945 and rose to F/O (war subs) on 28th October 1945.
Ernest Bradley saw out the end of the War as a PoW but the events surrounding this are not yet known.
Arthur Lewis was born in Hardieville, Alberta in 1916 and when he enlisted in Calgary in February 1941 he was working as a meatcutter in Lethbridge. Having completed his training he was posted to 158 Squadron around July 1942 and flew his first operational flight on 31st July 1942. After this incident at East Moor in October 1942 he did not fly operationally again until 26th January 1943. Later that year he received a commission and joined 434 Squadron but went through a series of three period of non-operational flying though rose to squadron gunnery leader. By 24th March 1945 he had finally flown thirty operational flights and was recommended for the DFC, this was Gazetted on 17th July 1945 and presented to him on 14th June 1947. The recommendation, as found by historian Hugh Halliday, reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Lewis has completed a tour of operations, the majority of which were attacks against such major German targets as Berlin, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. He has at all times displayed devotion to duty and courage of a very high order. As gunnery leader he has proven himself a tower of strength to the squadron, commanding the respect and admiration of all those under him."
Herbert Davenport-Ellerby enlisted for RAF service back on 29th January 1936.