Halifax JB848 near Pocklington.
On 29th March 1943 the crew of this 102 Squadron aircraft were in the process of taking off from Pocklington airfield for an operational flight to bomb Berlin. This aircraft had either passed through the slipstream of a 10 Squadron Melbourne-based aircraft that was also taking off, or JB848's pilot took severe evasive action to avoid hitting the other aircraft. The end result was the pilot of JB848 lost control, the aircraft stalled, turned onto it's back and crashed at 22.00hrs near Thirsk's Mill and Pocklington School at West Green, Pocklington. Sadly all on board were killed in the resulting explosion.
During the construction of a new doctor's surgery one of the engines from this aircraft was discovered. It now forms an impressive memorial near the crash site after extensive restoration.
Pilot - WO2 William Phelps Comrie RCAF (R/95452), aged 27, of Fargo, North Dakota, USA. Buried Barmby on the Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Flight Engineer? - Sgt William McGrath RAFVR (1365664), aged 23, of Glasgow. Buried Glasgow (St.Peter's) RC Cemetery.
Navigator - F/O Douglas William Francis Harper RAFVR (127313), aged 22, of Oadby, Leicestershire. Buried Barmby on the Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Navigator - F/O William Hugh Jenkins RAFVR (129161), aged 34, wife of Streetly. Cremated Perry Bar, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Frank William Dorrington RAFVR (1330802), aged 23, of Brighton. Buried The Downs Cemetery, Brighton, Sussex.
Air Gunner - Sgt John King RAFVR (1609738), aged 21, of Poplar, London. Buried East London Cemetery, Plaistow, Essex.
Air Gunner - Sgt Myles Christian Campbell Squiers RAFVR (1478651), aged 20, of South Africa, parents later of Gilgil, Kenya. Buried Barmby on the Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
This photograph shows part of the crew listed above, shown (believed to be left to right) are, Myles Squiers, Douglas Harper, William Comrie, Frank Dorrington and William Jenkins. A very well written account of this incident is recorded on "http://102ceylonsquadron.co.uk/memWilliamComrie.html" and while I have not drawn upon it this account does add a lot of additional background information.
The graves of the three airmen who are buried at Barmby on the Moor.
William Comrie was born on 8th July 1915 in Fargo, North Dakota, USA to Edward Phelps and Emelie Mildred (nee Bosquett) Comrie. As a young man he . He enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 11th March 1941 and after basic training was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 19th December 1941. On arrival in the UK in early 1942 he trained at No.1 Glider Training School, on 8th March 1942 he was flying as second pilot in Hotspur BT639 with Sgt Ogilvie was captain when the tow-rope broke on take off from Thame, he jettisoned the tow cable and made a crashed landing in a field but sustained slight injuries. He recovered and trained with 3 (P)AFU, 10 OTU and 1652 HCU before posting to 102 Squadron on 8th March 1943. He was married to Grace Balshaw, of West Kirby, Cheshire, England in January 1943.
Myles Squiers' father was a diplomat working in Southern Africa.
Halifax JB848 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Pocklington on 5th March 1943. As a result of sustaining in flak damage on 27th March 1943 and then on 28th March 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the damage assessment each time and it was repaired on site very quickly each time. On 29th March 1943 it crashed at Pocklington immediately after take off for an operational flight to bomb Berlin. Cat.E2 Burnt damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 8th April 1943 having flown just over 28 hours total flying time.
