On 20th December 1942 this 158 Squadron aircraft took off from Rufforth airfield at 17.50hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Duisburg, as the aircraft left the ground the the bomb doors were accidentally opened on take-off, as the aircraft climbed away it was put into a banked turn. With the bomb doors open it side-slipped into ground near Upper Poppleton, on Scagglethorpe Moor at 18.02hrs and broke up. The aircraft was fully loaded with high explosive bombs, incendiary bombs and flares. A number of local people heard the aircraft crash and made their way to the crash scene where a fire had taken hold. A local farmer and Senior ARP Warden, Mr Albert Victor Armstrong, was in his home at Pear Tree Farm, Hessay when he heard the aircraft crash nearby and was one of the first there. By the time he arrived the aircraft was already on fire but was in several pieces and the badly injured pilot was attempting to rescue members of his crew dispite serious injuries to himself. A number of the airmen had been thrown clear of the burning wreckage, one was found in a ditch with a broken leg, another initially appeared less seriously injured but was infact badly burned. Members of the crew were heard to be trapped in the burning wreckage and the pilot and Mr Armstrong, assisted by Mr Mervyn Gaines, First Aider Arthur Richard Hayes and Special Constable Sgt Somerville (or Somerset) attempted to gain access to the burning fuselage and successed in making a hole in the fuselage but by were sadly unsuccessful in their attempt. The pilot eventually passed out due to his injuries and Mr Arthur Armstrong took a leading role in the rescue attempt and was burned himself. Sadly no other members of the crew were able to be freed and sadly three airmen died as a result of the incident. For their actions the pilot and Mr Armstrong were commended for their actions and the citations for their awards given below add more details of their bravery. Special Constable Somerset, Mervyn Gaines and Arthur Hayes also received recommendations for awards.
The survivors were initially taken to Fulford Military Hospital, York but some were then moved to Rauceby when they were stabilised. Their long term fates are listed below. The rescue was well covered in the national newspapers on 8th / 9th May 1943 with both lead rescuers being awarded the British Empire Medal for their actions on this night.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Dermid McDermid Orrock Walker RAF (641481), aged 22, of Cowdenbeath. Buried Beath Cemetery, Fifeshire, Scotland.
Navigator / Bomb Aimer - Sgt James Buckland RAFVR (1233255), aged 32, of Talybont. Buried Talybont Chapelyard, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Bernard Jack Woodley RAFVR (1375573), aged 28, of Tooting, Surrey. Buried Streatham Cemetery, Wandsworth, London.
Pilot - Sgt Joseph Herbert Patrick O'Neill RAFVR (1312312). Seriously injured.
Navigator / Bomb Aimer - Sgt Anthony Peter Ward RAFVR (1165268). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Eric Stanton Lightley RAF (545420). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Alexander Scott RAFVR (1599133). Injured.
Albert Armstrong's British Empire Medal notification was printed much sooner than Sgt O'Neill's, it was printed in the London Gazette on 7th May 1943, the citation reads.. "An aircraft crashed and caught fire and members of the crew were kapped. Armstrong ran to the burning plane, stakes were procured, and efforts made to break open the burning fuselage. Being unsuccessful, a long piece of iron was used to attempt to turn the plane over. Whilst other helpers held the fuselage up with the piece of iron, Armstrong got underneath and tried to reach the occupants. After he had pulled out a parachute, flames and loose ammunition came through the hole, and made further attempts at rescue from this point impossible. Armstrong then made a hole in the side of the machine but by this time the top of the wreckage was in flames and the attempt had to be abandoned. During the whole time the rescue work was being carried out Verey lights and machine-gun bullets were exploding and it was known that bombs might also explode. Armstrong showed courage and determination without regard for his own safety. Albert Armstrong almost certainly died in the Knaresborough area in 1961.
Sgt O'Neill was awarded the BEM for his efforts in trying to rescue members of his crew from the burning aircraft. Notification was printed in the London Gazette of 10th August 1943 and the citation reads.. "Sergeant O'Neill was captain and pilot of a Halifax aircraft carrying high explosive bombs and incendiaries which crashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off for an operational mission. Some members of the crew were trapped in the blazing wreckage and although Sergeant O'Neill was himself severely injured and burned and in a fainting condition through loss of blood, he resolutely refused to leave the scene of the accident. Disregarding his own injuries he worked unsparingly, directing and helping civilians in an attempt to save others in the wreckage. Without thought for himself, his efforts ceased only when he became unconscious. His coolness and great strength of will earned the unbounded admiration of all concerned."
Joseph O'Neill recovered from his injuries and was later posted to 51 Squadron and was sadly killed on 28th April 1944 flying Ops to Montzen in Halifax MZ565 when the aircraft was shot down by flak over Liege. He and his then crew were intially buried in St.Truiden but they are now buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. F/Sgt O'Neill was twenty eight years old. I thank Mr Ade Harris for the photograph of his gravestone.
Sgt Ward received serious leg injuries and spent many months recovering, when deemed fit and after a period of leave he was posted to 19 OTU at Forres to go through the Bomber Command training again. After completing this OTU he was posted back to his old station of Rufforth where 1663 HCU was now in situ. He was then posted to 10 Squadron at Melbourne and flew his first operational flight with them on 19th May 1944. He received his commission on 16th August 1944 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). An account of his time in the RAF was uploaded to the internet and adds much more detail into his postings and flying. He would complete a Tour with 10 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 27th March 1945, the citation for which reads.. "P/O Ward has been engaged on operations with 10 Squadron for a considerable period. His sorties have included attacks on mant strongly fortified targets in enemy territory, such as Stuttgart, Duisburg, Brunswick and Kiel. He has proven to be an outstanding navigator. During an attack on Amiens in June 1944 his aircraft was attacked by two enemy fighters, both of which were destroyed after a running fight.... This officer has always displayed exceptional keenness and ability on operations."
Eric Lightley was initially treated at York Hospital but was later transferred to East Grinstead Hospital for treatment to burns to his hands and face. He became one of the famous Guinea Pig patients. He was probably one Eric Lightley born in Morpeth, Northumberland in 1919 and died in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in December 1985.
Halifax W7784 was built to contract B.73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 4th August 1942 it was taken on charge as new by 78 Squadron at Middleton St.George who later moved to Linton on Ouse on 16th September 1942. On 3rd October 1942 the aircraft received a Cat.Ac/FB damage assessment, the squadron records do not list any damage to any aircraft that may relate to this aircraft so what happened is not yet known. It was repaired on site and returned to 78 Squadron on 19th October 1942. It was next used operationally by 78 Squadron on 9th November 1942. The aircraft was transferred to 158 Squadron at Rufforth on 10th December 1942. As a result of the crash at Upper Poppleton on 20th December 1942 Cat.E2/FB Burnt damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 1st January 1943.