Wellington Z1327 near Farnley Tyas, Huddersfield.
On the evening of 17th February 1942 the crew in this 460 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a night cross-country training exercise and left Breighton airfield at 19.20hrs. The route the crew took from base was heading south and using Peterborough, Harwell, Pershore and Sywell as turning points and then make for Breighton. As they were well on their way back towards base they flew off track and ended up over Huddersfield. The aircraft descended into rising ground near Farnley Tyas and at 22.20hrs the aircraft struck a cottage then crashed into a wooded area, named Molicar Woods in an Upper Agbrigg ARP log. Sadly all six airmen on board lost their lives as a result of this accident. 460 Squadron was born out of C-Flight of 458 Squadron in November 1941. The funeral service for Ware, Tresidder, Ashplant and Dickeson was held at Holme on Spalding Moor on 23rd February 1942. The cottage was rebuilt and carried the name "Pheonix Cottage" for many years, it was re-named Wellington Cottage more recently. A memorial was dedicated at the crash site in 2015.
Wellington Z1327 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester and was awaiting collection in October 1941. On 17th October 1941 it was flown to 46 MU at Lossiemouth and then on 23rd December 1941 it was taken on charge by 460 Squadron who were then based at Molesworth. 460 Squadron then moved to Breighton on 4th January 1942. As a result of the crash near Farnley Tyas on 17th February 1942 the aircraft was destroyed and Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the assessment for the paperwork. It was struck off charge on 23rd February 1942.
Pilot - Sgt James Henry Ware RAAF (402897), aged 24, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Second Pilot - Sgt Robert Litchfield Tresidder RAAF (402894), aged 26, of Coogee, New South Wales, Australia. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Observer - Sgt William Leonard Ashplant RAFVR (1170676), aged 31. Born Bideford, Devon. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Cyril Caradoe Davies RAFVR (1052270), aged 29. Of Colwyn Bay. Buried Llandrillo-yn-rhos (St Trillo) Churchyard, Wales.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Dutton RAFVR (1006728), aged 20. Of Hoole, Cheshire. Buried Overleigh Cemetery, Cheshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Raymond Dickeson RAFVR (1292128), aged 37. Born Tottenham, London. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Robert Tresidder was born on 27th November 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria but enlisted in Sydney.
James Ware was born on 29th May 1917 in Alandale, New South Wales and also enlisted in Sydney. Given the closeness of their service numbers it seems likely both men enlisted on the same day. When the accident occurred James Ware had flown a total of eighteen hours at night with thirteen of these being in the Wellington type.
The area of the accident, as photographed by Graham Sharpe in 1983.
