Halifax HR754 near Goxhill, Hornsea.
On the night of 3rd / 4th April 1943 the crew of this 158 Squadron aircraft were tasked with an operational flight to bomb Essen and left Lissett airfield at 19.40hrs. On their return the aircraft crashed on the south side of Hornsea Mere at 00.48hrs. The cause of the crash was never fully understood. Sadly four of the seven crew were killed. Air historians including Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast located small fragments on the surface at the crash site in 2000 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location as around half a mile south of Hornsea Mere and north east of Weather Hill Farm.
Pilot - Sgt John Keedwell RAFVR (925015), aged 29, of Purton, Berkeley. Buried Slimbridge Churchyard, Gloucestershire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Robert Franks RAFVR (998499), aged 35, of Carlton, Goole. Buried Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Bomb Aimer - F/O John Burgess RAFVR (128714), aged 21, of Belfast. Buried Carnmoney Cemetery, Co.Antrim.
Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald Victor Loose RAFVR (1395954), aged 20, of Staines. Buried Staines Cemetery, Middlesex.
Navigator? - F/O William Rhymer Simpson RAFVR (130239). Injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner? - Sgt Reginald Sydney Nurse RAFVR (1496525). Injured.
Air Gunner? - Sgt Leonard Francis Froud RAFVR (1379219). Injured.
Reginald Nurse recovered from his injuries and was posted to 408 Squadron. He was flying Ops to bomb the ball baring factory at Schweinfurt in Lancaster DS844 on 25th February 1944, the aircraft is believed to have crashed in the target area and all the crew are now listed on the Runnymede Memorial. He was twenty three years old. The loss of Lancaster DS844 is detailed on the "aircrew remembered" website where the photograph of Reginald Nurse was found (photograph credit to William Hillman).
William Simpson received a commission in the RAF on 29th September 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 29th March 1943. He later served as an air gunnery instructor but on the night of 5th / 6th September 1943 he was flying as a navigator with 77 Squadron in Halifax JB839 on Ops to Mannheim. The aircraft crashed in Germany. He was twenty two years old and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.
John Burgess received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 14th September 1942 and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 14th March 1942.
Halifax HR754 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 14th March 1943. The following day it was transferred to 158 Squadron at Lissett. As a result of the crash on 4th April 1943 Cat.E2/FB Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge ten days later.