On the evening of the 21st November 1944 the crew of this 420 Squadron aircraft took off from Tholthorpe airfield at 15.32hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. They bombed the target area from 17,000 feet at 19.01hrs and made for home. On the homeward leg one of the engines is believed to have failed. Because of poor weather over the general York / Easingwold area the returning 420 Squadron crews were diverted north to land at either Leeming, Croft or Middleton St.George airfields where the weather was better. Halifax HX346 was diverted to land at Leeming. The crew reached Leeming and made one approach to land but opted to fly an overshoot to fly a circuit of the airfield to make a better approach to land. The aircraft did not fly the circuit of the airfield high enough and it struck at tree near Thrintoft at 23.20hrs. The aircraft subsequently crashed shortly afterwards near Broomfield House Farm. Sadly one member of the crew was killed while the other six airmen were all injured to varying degrees. After the crew several explosions occurred and the aircraft was destroyed.
Pilot - F/Lt Joseph Stanley Sefton RCAF (J/12049).
Air Bomber - F/O Fred Yarush RCAF (J/24789), aged 26, of Grandview, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (H/C/7).
Flight Engineer - Sgt W Porter RAF (2210219?) or (1076349?).
Navigator - F/O Alexander McKillop RCAF (J/38174).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Jackson Wills Rowan RCAF (J/89994).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt William Edward Paul Thompson RCAF (R/212968).
Air Gunner - Sgt James Harry Waugh RCAF (R/201625).
Fred Yarush was born on 1st July 1918 at Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada and was the son of John and Tetha (nee Zapatochim) Jarosz. His parents were both born in Poland but emigrated to Canada. Fred appears to have Anglicized his surname to Yarush. After leaving school Fred worked as a butcher for a number of companies, latterly in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He enlisted for RCAF service on 15th August 1941 in Winnipeg. He appears to have initially started pilot training but later switched to training as a bomb aimer. After training he was awarded his air bomber's flying badge and also a commission on 19th March 1943 but then remained in Canada for the next ten months. On arrival in the UK in early 1944 he trained at 4(O)AFU, 24 OTU and 1666 HCU before posting to 420 Squadron on 11th September 1944.
William Thompson was born in 1920 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and enlisted for RCAF service there in December 1942. He received a commission around the time of this crash near Leeming in November 1942. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service with 420 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th September 1945. The citation for his DFC reads.. "Flying Officer Thompson has participated in numerous sorties against many heavily defended targets in Germany. In November 1944, while attacking Oberhausen, his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter. This officer manned the mid-upper turret and gave the captain and rear gunner concise reports of the enemy's movements and as a result of his accurate fire the fighter was destroyed. On another occasion, whilst returning from operations, his aircraft made a crash landing near base causing injury to members of the crew. Flying Officer Thompson has continued to display enthusiasm and keenness on all operations. His courage and determination have been an example to the whole squadron."
James Waugh was born in June 1924 at Summerside, Prince Edward Island and enlisted for RCAF service in Montreal in November 1942. He was mid way through his tour with 420 Squadron he survived the crash of Halifax HX346 near Thrintoft, Yorkshire on 21st November 1944. For service with 420 Squadron he was awarded the DFM, Gazetted on 9th January 1945 the citation makes mention to one incident a couple of months earlier, it reads.. "This airman has taken part in a number of sorties and has proved himself to be a cool and confident crew member. One night in November 1944 he was the rear gunner in an aircraft detailed to attack Oberhausen. After leaving the target area the bomber was intercepted by a fighter. The enemy aircraft came in with guns blazing. Flight Sergeant Waugh coolly withheld his fire and gave the necessary evading directions to his pilot. When the attacker was within close range, Flight Sergeant Waugh opened fire. His bullets struck the enemy aircraft which burst into flames, fell away and afterwards crashed on the ground. This airman displayed skill and coolness worthy of much praise." Having received a commission he was later awarded the DFC for further service with 420 Squadron, Gazetted on 26th October 1945 this citation states that.."Pilot Officer Waugh has successfully completed numerous sorties since the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal. During his tour he shot down one enemy aircraft and was involved in two aircraft crashes. Despite these trying experiences this officer resumed operational flying with undiminished enthusiasm. While flying on an operation in March 1945, Pilot Officer Waugh had to leave the aircraft by parachute on instructions from the pilot at approximately 3,000 feet. The aircraft crashed directly beneath him and the explosion caused him to shoot up again and his parachute partially folded up. After a drop of 400 feet he was able to get his parachute open again and alight safely. Throughout his operational career Pilot Officer Waugh has shown courage, tenacity and devotion to duty worthy of the highest praise." He later was the only survivor from 420 Squadron Halifax NA190 which crashed near Aberford on 5th March 1945.
There were two pilots with the surname Sefton on the books of 420 Squadron in November 1944. One (the other) would later be awarded the DFC.