Part of the crash site was dug (believed to have been on MoD licence) some years ago and a buried collection of some of the larger items on this aircraft were recovered, this included a Browning machine gun which was, I am told by local people, was later taken away by the police and was probably destroyed. The recovered items from the dig are thought to have been located buried in a filled-in hole rather than being found where they fell. With the landowner being unwhitingly involved in this police matter and the hole not being made good he quite understandably restricted access to the field when air historians Ken Reast and I sought to locate the crash site to record the location in 2010. The aircraft is believed to have come down in the field shown above which I photographed the same year.

Raoul Demers' gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Raoul Demers was born on 17th July 1922 at Breakeyville, near Levis, Quebec, Canada and was the son of Georges and Alice (nee Tremblay) Demers. His family later moved to St.Maurice where he attended primary school and then to Quebec City in 1931. As a young man he worked at a few different jobs, his last before joining the RCAF was for the famous F.W.Woolworth company at their Quebec store. He enlisted for RCAF service in Quebec on 31st July 1942 and after basic training in Canada he was awarded his air gunner's badge on 16th April 1943. He was granted a short period of embarkation leave and then sailed for the UK from New York on 4th May 1943. He arrived in the UK seven days later he was then posted to train at 23 OTU on 18th May 1943. His next posting was to 1664 HCU on 14th August 1943. While training at 1664 HCU and was part of F/Sgt Robert Peter Reynolds RCAF (R/135119) crew but F/Sgt Reynolds was killed on 22nd September 1943 while flying as second pilot with another crew to gain operational experience, he was flying in Halifax LK909 which failed to return from Ops to Hanover. He was posted to 434 Squadron on 10th September 1943. Following the loss of their pilot the remaining crew members were left pilotless so they were re-assigned and Sgt Demers (R/177124) joined Flewelling's crew at 434 Squadron. He received his commission on 23rd January 1944. I thank his nephew Mr Martin Demers for kindly contacting me in July 2015 and for supplying the additional information regarding his late uncle shown here.

The photograph above shows Murray Flewelling and three airmen who flew with him at 434 Squadron (two of which were on board at the time of this incident at Flixton). The photograph depicts the 1000th operational bombing flight flown by 434 Squadron which was flown by "Crew No.23" (Flewelling's), it shows (left to right) Murray Flewelling, Bob McCunn, Don Hutcheon and Bob Brown are shown. (Photograph via Alan Soderstrom's website.)

The Commanding Officer of 434 Squadron W/Co Francis Watkins RCAF (left) and F/Lt Murray Flewelling RCAF (right) standing in front of Halifax LW175 "WL-Q, The Queen". This photograph must post-date the accident to Halifax EB256 at Flixton and must have been taken after August 1944 as Halifax MZ921 it was not delivered to the RCAF until August 1944. Murray Flewelling was born in Calgary in 1919 and was a clerk prior to enlisting into the RCAF there on 1st August 1942. He later received his commission in 1943. On 4th October 1943 he and his crew (varying slightly from the crew above) lost a hatch on take-off, they carried out their flight to Kassel, Germany with the temperature in the aircraft going to minus 32 degrees. He was recommended for the DFC on 20th June 1944 and at this date he had flown twenty nine sorties (just over 162 hours flying time) between 12th August 1943 and 10th June 1944. His DFC was granted and the London Gazette published the notification on 1st August 1944. King George IV presented him with his DFC on 11th August 1944 during a visit to Middleton St.George airfield. The citation for his DFC does not add as much detail as the recommendation, Hugh Halliday's research into RCAF awards has located both. The recommendation refers, in the main, to the Flixton incident, it reads.."This officer has been with the squadron since its formation, and has completed a total of twenty-nine sorties. Twelve of these operations have been against heavily defended targets in Germany. While over the target on one of his attacks on Berlin [28 January 1944], his aircraft was attacked by a fighter and the fuel tanks punctured. He successfully carried out his mission and displayed exceptional skill, fearlessness and dogged determination in extricating his aircraft from a perilous situation. He completed a hazardous and perilous return journey, safely bringing his aircraft over home soil. With the petrol supply completely exhausted he was unable to reach an airport. With complete disregard for his personal safety he kept his aircraft aloft until his crew had safely baled out, then abandoned it by parachute. His crew undoubtedly owe their lives to the outstanding fortitude and skill of this officer. This officer's efficiency, zealous devotion to duty, exceptional fearlessness and magnificent leadership are an inspiration and praiseworthy example of the highest order." The basic citation for his DFC reads.."This officer has participated in very many sorties, most of them against heavily defended targets. He is a highly skilled member of aircraft crew whose fearlessness and determination have greatly inspired his crew. He has set an excellent example." He died in 1986.

Donald Hutcheon was born in Davidson, Saskatchewan in 1922 and enlisted in Regina in October 1941. He received his commission in 1942. For service with 434 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944, the citation also refers to the incident at Flixton, it reads.. "This officer has participated in many sorties, the majority of which have been against heavily defended German targets. On one occasion his aircraft was attacked by an enemy night fighter and the petrol tanks holed, causing a serious shortage of petrol. Flying Officer Hutcheon worked out a shorter course back for the return flight which enabled the crew to leave the aircraft by parachute over this country. Throughout his tour this officer has maintained a high standard of courage, cheerful confidence and devotion to duty."

Richard Dobney received his commission on 16th December 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He rose to F/O (war subs) on 16th June 1944 but left the RAF on the grounds of medical unfitness on 25th November 1945. He was born in 1923, married in early 1943 and died in 1991 all in the Spalding area of Lincolnshire.

Stanley Thompson received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 23rd January 1944 (from Sgt 1080427) but the notification was only printed in the London Gazette in April 1944. He was promoted to F/O on 23rd July 1944. On 22nd February 1954 he relinquished his commission.

James Clayton received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 2nd December 1943 and rose to F/O on 2nd June 1944 and to F/Lt on 2nd December 1945. Post-wat he remained in the RAFVR until reliquishing his commission of F/Lt on 10th February 1954.

P/O Edmund Vigor and his then crew were killed on 28th April 1944 when Halifax LL258, which he was piloting was shot down over Belgium on Ops to Montzen. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down by a night-fighter piloted Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (the highest scoring Luftwaffe night-fighter pilot in the War) and crashed in the vicinity of Nurop & Teuven, Belgium. Ted Vigor is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. The above photograph shows Ted Vigor (far right just in shot) and two other members of his then crew. He was born on 9th June 1917. I thank Mr Ade Harris for the photograph of his gravestone.

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