Wellington X3305 near Pollington.
During the evening of 24th April 1942 this 150 Squadron aircraft was to have flown an operational flight to bomb Dunkirk and took off from Snaith at around 22.00hrs but shortly after it left the ground control was lost and the aircraft dived into the ground just north of Pollington. Sadly all the crew died as a result of the accident. The investigation into the cause of the accident was limited due to the bomb load exploding. Although not unique to aircraft crash sites, three of the crew were buried in the locally to the crash in the churchyard at Pollington.
Pilot - Sgt Herbert John Thorogood RAFVR (1375386), aged 23, of Romford, Essex. Buried Romford Cemetery, Essex.
Second Pilot - P/O Norman Curtis Lerwill RAFVR (108541), aged 30. Buried Pollington Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Observer - P/O Alan Frederick James RCAF (J/7214), aged 29, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Pollington Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt George Herbert Jordan RAFVR (1311122), aged 27, of New Southgate. Buried Southgate Cemetery, Middlesex.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas William Chaston RAFVR (1181834), aged 21, of Rochester. Buried Rochester Cemetery, Kent.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Norman Kenneth MacLeod RCAF (R/64474), aged 21, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Buried Pollington Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Norman MacLeod was born on 12th December 1920 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Malcolm and Brittania (nee Willoughby) MacLeod. As a young man he attended the Stinson Street public school in Hamilton and the Central High School of Commerce. He was employed as a machine hand for a plant hire company when he enlisted into the RCAF on 22nd July 1940 in Hamilton. After training in Canada he was awarded his air gunner's badge on 16th March 1941 after initially undertaking wireless operator training. He married Hazel Mary Lowell on 22nd March 1941 in Hamilton a week before posting overseas. On arrival in the UK he trained at 23 OTU before posting to 150 Squadron on 9th October 1941.
Alan James was born on 20th June 1912 to Edward Ross and Eleanor Jessie (nee Burnell) James, in Rosser, Manitoba, Canada. As a young man he had worked at various jobs in argiculture or horticulture. When he enlisted for RCAF service he was living with his mother in Winnipeg, enlisting there on 21st November 1940 initially training as a wireless operator / air gunner but switched to train as a navigator in early 1941. He was awarded his Observer's Wings on 4th August 1941 and received a commission on 1st September 1941.
Norman Lerwill received a commission on 13th September 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency).
Historians Eric Barton, Albert Pritchard and Ken Reast sought permission from the landowner of the general area of the crash site in September 2000 and then field walked the area locating fragments of the aircraft on the surface to confirm the location.
Sgt Thorogood's brother Frederick was a navigator in the RAFVR and was also killed in the War on 13th February 1943. Both brothers are buried in the same cemetery. Herbert Thorogood had a total of 96 hours night flying when this accident occurred with all but five being on the Wellington type.
Wellington X3305 was built to contract B.92439/40 By Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Squires Gate, Blackpool and was awaiting collection on 22nd May 1941. It was allotted to 18 MU on 14th July 1941 and was received by them on 11th September 1941. After a short period of storage it was taken on charge by 9 Squadron at Honington on 24th October 1941 and served with them until being transferred to 57 Squadron at Methwold on 28th January 1942 when 57 Squadron began conversion from Wellington MkII's to MkIII's. On 15th April 1942 it was taken on charge by 150 Squadron at Snaith. As a result of the crash at Pollington on 24th April 1942 the damage was assessed and Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded. It was struck off charge on 30th April 1942.