Halifax JD106 at Wombleton airfield.
On 27th April 1944 this 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax was parked on the southern perimeter track at Wombleton airfield with the crew awaiting clearance for take off to undertake a Bullseye training flight. At 23.17hrs, Halifax JB859 and its crew had stopped on the same perimeter track behind Halifax JD106 to await take off clearance but the breaks were thought to have not been properly applied and it had the misfortune to roll forward into Halifax JD106. Both port propellers were rotating and they struck the rear of Halifax JD106, sadly the rear gunner of JD106 was killed in this incident. The rear of the Halifax was also badly damaged. The rest of the crew of JD106 would complete their training and become a well-decorated crew with 419 Squadron. This was the ONLY fatal flying accident at Wombleton airfield during the Second World War.
Rear Gunner - Sgt Ward Thomas Falan RCAF (R/207621), aged 21, of Collins Bay, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Pilot - F/O William Robertson Chalcraft RCAF (J/16556), of Calgary, Canada.
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Robert Gunn RAF (1626222).
Navigator - P/O James Edgar Taylor RCAF (J/27472), of Fillmore, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Charles Donald Christian RCAF (J/27454), of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Paul Emile Bourassa RCAF (R/136575), of St.Remi, Quebec, Canada.
Halifax JD106 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Company (E.E.C.) Ltd at Samlesbury and was delivered directly to 10 Squadron at Melbourne on 28th April 1943. On the night of 23rd / 24th May 1943 it sustained minor flak Cat.A.FB damage which was repaired on site at Melbourne airfield. This damage was was assessed on 27th May 1943 as being Cat.B which was initially deemed repairable on site by a team from Handley Page. On 4th June 1943 it was re-assessed and deemed necessary to transport it to Handley Page's repair depot for a repair in works. Once the repair was complete it was passed to 44 M.U. on 26th January 1944 and was then taken on charge by 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Wombleton on 17th March 1944. On 27th April 1944 while awaiting clearance for take-off at Wombleton to undertake a training flight it was struck from behind by Halifax JB859 and the rear gunner of Halifax JD106, Sgt Ward Falan RCAF, was killed. Cat.A/FA damage was the assessment following inspection and it was repaired on site. It was returned to 1666 H.C.U. on 19th May 1944. Halifax JD106 continued to be used by 1666 H.C.U. and then on the night of 12th / 13th June 1944 it was being flown on a night cross country training flight when the one of the four engines caught fire in the air over North-East Scotland. The fire went out and the engine was shut down but another engine then suffered a coolant leak so the crew made a successful landing at Peterhead airfield without suffering further damage. The aircraft had an engine change at Peterhead and was flown back to Wombleton where it continued to be used by 1666 H.C.U.. Following a serious crash on the North Yorkshire Moors on 23rd June 1944 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E2/FA(Burnt) damage, it was written off and struck off charge on 30th June 1944 once the paperwork caught up.
Ward Falan and his gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. He was born on 5th November 1922 in the Collins Bay area (or Ernesttown) in Ontario and was the son of Frederick and Marnie or Mamie Falan (nee Van Winale). As a young man he worked in farming until 1941 when he moved to Kingston and worked as a machine operator before being admitted to the Kingston General Hospital with tonsillitis. When he recovered he appears to have been offered a job working as a porter at the same hospital in July 1942. He enlisted for RCAF service on 7th January 1943 in Ottawa. After basic training in Canada he was awarded his Air Gunner' badge on 1st October 1943 and was posted overseas later that month. On arrival in the UK he trained at 23 OTU beginning 16th December 1943 before posting to the Dalton Battle School in March 1944 and then on to 1666 HCU at Wombleton on 2nd April 1944. His brother George served in the Canadian Army
William Chalcraft was born in Calgary in 1919 and prior to enlisting into the RCAF he served in the Royal Canadian Artillery, he enlisted in Calgary in May 1941 and was commissioned in 1943. Following the incident detailed above his crew received a new rear gunner (actually the rear gunner from Halifax JB859) and completed their conversion training and were later posted to 419 Squadron. He would have a landing mishap at East Moor airfield in Lancaster KB735 later in September 1944. For service with 419 Squadron he was recommended for the DFC on 17th January 1945 and had completed thirty five operational flights at the time (between 9th May 1944 and 25th September 1944, with 166 hours flying time). Notification of his DFC appeared in the London Gazette on 22nd May 1945, he was presented it by King George VI on 29th June 1945. The was no citation as such but the recommendation adds much more detail, it reads.. "Flight Lieutenant Chalcraft has taken part in 35 day and night attacks on the enemy. Many of these were in direct and indirect support of the Allied Ground Forces. He has invariably set an extremely high standard of crew captaincy and has shown great determination to attack the enemy despite the stiffest opposition they could muster. I consider the wholehearted devotion to duty and resolution shown by this officer fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Charles Christian was born in 1921 in Victoria and enlisted in Vancouver in May 1942. He was commissioned in 1943. With his skipper he was posted to 419 Squadron after completing his training at 1666 HCU. He too was recommended for the DFC on 29th September 1944 when he had flown thirty three operational flights between 22nd May and 25th September 1944 (159 hours flying time). Notification appeared in the London Gazette on 16th January 1945 but there was no citation as such, however Hugh Halliday has located the recommendation which reads.. "This officer has now completed 32 sorties and, throughout, his courage and devotion to duty has been outstanding. Flying Officer Christian's consistent determination to achieve accuracy in his bombing, and his exceptional interest in familiarizing himself with every detail necessary for the success of his operations, have made him an invaluable member of his crew and squadron. On precision
targets his bombing results have been quite remarkable and he has secured no fewer than fifteen photographs plotted within 400 yards of the target. If circumstances demand it, he has made no fewer than three bombing runs to ensure steady and accurate bombing. When attacking heavily defended targets, he has never allowed enemy opposition to interfere with his bombing run and, under all circumstances, he has insisted on a steady and accurate approach. I consider the outstanding devotion to duty, the outstanding example and the complete disregard of personal danger shown by this officer fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Paul Bourassa enlisted in Quebec in December 1941 and at the time he lived in St.Remi, Quebec. He completed his training with his skipper and was also posted to 419 Squadron. Little is known about him apart from he received the DFC when Warrant Officer 2nd Class , it appeared in the London Gazette on 22nd August 1944. The Citation reads.. "Warrant officer Bourassa has participated in many sorties and has proved himself to be a determined and dependable member of aircraft crew, He has at all times shown the greatest keenness and his example of courage and devotion to duty has been worthy of great praise."
James Taylor was born in 1911 in Shebo, Saskatchewan but was living in Fillmore, Saskatchewan when he enlisted in Montreal in June 1942. He received a commission in 1943 and was recommended for the DFC on 7th October 1944 when he had flown thirty three operational flights between 22nd May and 25th September 1944 (158 hours flying), it was granted and appeared in the London Gazette on 19th January 1945 and while the citation was a vague one Hugh Halliday's superb research has located the recommendation, it reads.. "Flying Officer Taylor has maintained an exceptionally high standard of determination, skill and navigational efficiency on a large number of operational sorties to the enemy's most heavily defended targets. On the night of May 24th, 1944, when attacking Aachen, Flying Officer Taylor found that his compass had veered over forty degrees for some little time. By his speed and accurate reactions to the situation, he put his aircraft back on track by the best possible means and so reduced materially the danger of his aircraft and crew. He has invariably shown great resource in maintaining a high degree of accuracy in the navigation of his heavy bomber and his enthusiasm and devotion to duty have set a very high example to the remainder of his crew and to the squadron as a whole. I consider the undoubted courage and enthusiasm that this officer has shown to attack the enemy fully merits the non-immediate award of the Distinguished Flying Cross."