Halifax LK761 near Huby, Easingwold.
On the evening of 16th February 1944 this 432 Squadron aircraft was one of four taking off from East Moor to undertake a night time training exercise, 432 Squadron were on an operational "stand down" while their aircrews were converting from flying the Lancaster MkII to the Halifax MkIII during the month beginning on 7th February 1944. After taking off at 19.41hrs in a northerly direction this aircraft was believed to have climbed too steeply and a stall had then occurred as the airspeed dropped off, the aircraft then fell out of the sky and dived into the ground at 19.43hrs to the north of Huby. It first crashed into a field but continued it's course across a road and ended up in a small wood and caught fire and sadly all on board were killed. While the pilot was very experienced in flying other types of aircraft with 1531 hours flying to his name, he had only seven hours flying time on the Halifax and only one of these was in flying the Halifax type at night. This flight was his first attempt at a solo night-time take-off aside from the usual take-offs and landings circuit flying exercises carried out when converting to aircraft types. The accident records are now available for this incident and they state that the inexperience of the pilot in flying the Halifax was said to have been to blame for this incident but there is no doubt that he was a very fine and capable officer, leader and airman. Having no knowledge of the cause of this incident other 432 Squadron personnel believed the reason for the crash was the all four propellers had locked into a fully fine pitch and "ran away", as a result the squadron members believed that the aircraft would not have been able to climb and crashed.
The funeral for all of the crew was held at Sutton on the Forest church on 22nd February at 09.00hrs, close to the full 432 Squadron attended the service with the burials at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery at 11.00hrs with full military honours. It is of note that this aircraft had crashed only a matter of yards from where Halifax EB198 had come down near Huby the previous year.
Halifax LK761 was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Ltd at Stockport and was delivered directly to 432 Squadron at East Moor in early February 1944. It was destroyed in the incident almost certainly just days after delivery and Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment.
Pilot - S/Ldr William Watson Strachan DFC RCAF (J/9863), aged 28, of Trail, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/14).
Flight Engineer - P/O Joseph Gilliard RAF (54452), aged 22, of Killester, Dublin, Irish Republic. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/9).
Navigator - P/O Maurice Allan Martin RCAF (J/18871), aged 23, of Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/10).
Bomb Aimer - F/O Nick John Baron RCAF (J/21045), aged 29, of Spedden, Alberta, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/13).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Robert Claire Stuart RCAF (J/18402), aged 24, of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/12).
Mid Upper Gunner - 1Lt Albert Lionel Rorke USAAF (0-886242), of Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. Initially buried Brookwood, Surrey, re-buried Madingley Cemetery, Cambridgeshire (D/2/13).
Rear Gunner - P/O Howard Murray Stewart RCAF (J/19066), aged 21, of Walburg, Saskatchewan, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (F/A/11).
This poor copy of a photograph that shows the main part of Strachan's crew. Joseph Gilliard is standing far right and the airmen kneeling are Maurice Martin (left) and Howard Stewart (right). The other three on the back row are unconformed by could be Strachan, Rorke and Baron.
A much better photograph of five of the Strachan Crew, taken on 26th November 1943 infront of Lancaster DS831 just before flying an operational flight to Berlin. Left to right are.. Strachan, (possibly) Rorke, possibly Stuart in a heated suit, Gilliard, Baron, then F/Lt R H Hamilton and F/Lt H G Phillips (photograph source: PL-22561). I would welcome confirmation of any names to any of these airmen.
Bill Strachan at his desk (PL-26261) and his grave at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. William Strachan was born in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland on 21st January 1916 and was the son of James and Jessie Cameron (nee Watson) Strachan. He lived with his parents and two sisters in Scotland until 1927 when they all emigrated to Trail, British Columbia, Canada. He completed his school studies in Canada and in 1934 began work as an electrician for the Canadian Mining and Smelting Company and was still working for the same company when he enlisted for RCAF service on 11th June 1940 for aircrew duties. After basic pilot training he was awarded his pilot's flying badge and also a commision on 15th December 1941. He remained in Canada with his service file suggesting that he was selected for being an RAF Ferry Command pilot but this position was later cancelled and he was posted to the UK in November 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 11 (P)AFU and 22 OTU before posting to 432 Squadron on 3rd May 1943. 432 Squadron were flying Wellingtons at that point and he then converted to flying the four engine bombers with 1679 CU on attachment during September and October 1943 returning to 432 Squadron on 14th October 1943. He was awarded the DFC for service with 423 Squadron. The citation refers to the events on 14th January 1944 when he was the pilot of Lancaster LL636 and reads.."This officer has taken part in many attacks against targets in Germany and has displayed commendable skill, courage and determination. One night in January 1944, Squadron Leader Strachan piloted an aircraft which attacked Brunswick. Shortly after the bombs had been released the aircraft was hit by bullets from an enemy fighter. Much damage was sustained but Squadron Leader Strachan skilfully outmanoeuvred the attacker and afterwards flew the damaged aircraft to base. Squadron Leader Strachan is a model captain whose example has inspired all with whom he has flown." On return to East Moor it was realised the undercarriage was damaged and the aircraft slewed off at ninety degrees. As fate would have it this was only two weeks before his death, he got confirmation it was being awarded although it was not presented until December 1944 to his next of kin.
Nick Baron was born on 6th November 1915 in Spedden, Alberta, Canada and was the son of John and Julia (nee Korchuk) Baron. Both his parents are listed in Nick's service file as being Austrian/Ukrainian. He left school in 1933 and worked at the family farm in Spedden until 1937 when he returned to high school in Edmonton. He then began working as a teacher at Smoky Lake school, Alberta in 1939 but left to enlist for RCAF service in Edmonton on 3rd February 1942. He trained as an air bomber, receiving his air bomber's badge on 20th November 1942 and received a commission on the same date. On arrival in the UK he was posted to train at 22 OTU on 23rd February 1943 and then to 432 Squadron on 3rd May 1943 who were flying Wellingtons at that time. He later converted with his crew from Wellingtons to Lancasters at 1679 Heavy Conversion Flight in late September / early October 1943 and returned to 432 Squadron when this was complete. 432 Squadron later converted to Halifax MkV's in early 1944.
Howard Stewart was born on 19th April 1922 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of David alexander and Helen Yvonne (nee Gibson) Stewart. He left school in 1939 and worked in farming at St.Walburg until 1942 but returned to a undertake pre-enlistment schooling in 1942. He enlisted for RCAF service on 4th May 1942 in Regina. After training in Canada he was awarded his air gunners' flying badge on 18th December 1942. He too arrived in the UK in early 1943 and trained at 22 OTU before posting to 432 Squadron on 3rd May 1943 with Strachan and his original Wellington crew. He later received a commission on 28th October 1943. While in Yorkshire he married Dorothy Mary Wright in Thirsk, Yorkshire in December 1943.
Robert Stuart was born on 11th September 1919 at RR#4 Simcoe, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Albert and Mabel Elizabeth (nee Austin) Stuart. As a young man he worked on the family farm and also did some seasonal truck driving work for a local firm. He enlisted for RCAF service on 2nd January 1941 at Hamilton, Ontario for aircrew duties and after training in Canada he was awarded his air gunners' flying badge on 3rd January 1942 followed soon after by the wireless operator part to it. He married Eudene May McClain on 16th January 1942 in Ottawa just prior to going overseas. On arrival in the UK in Spring 1942 he trained at 2 (O)AFU and 22 OTU before posting to 76 Squadron Conversion Flight. He then joined 76 Squadron on 29th September 1942 and flew with them until 13th April 1943 when he was posted back to 22 OTU. He then appears to have joined the Strachan crew and was posted to 432 Squadron with them on 3rd May 1943. He was granted a commission on 7th July 1943.
Mauruce Martin was born on 18th April 1920 in Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of Jacob F and Mary E (nee Marriott) Martin. After attending school until 1939 he worked on the family farm at Delisle with his brother Cecil and six sisters. He enlisted for RCAF service in Saskatoon on 15th May 1941 for aircrew duties and after basic training in Canada he was awarded his air navigator's flying badge on 9th October 1942. He was then posted overseas the following month and further trained at 6 AOS and 22 OTU (where the Strachan Wellington crew formed). He was then posted 432 Squadron on 3rd May 1943 and later converted to fly Lancasters with 1679 Conversion Flight later in the year. He was granted a commission on 26th August 1943.
Joseph Gilliard had trained as a motor mechanic in Dublin in the 1930's and had volunteered for the RAF when war broke out. He eventually graduated to aircrew and became a flight engineer. Killester was a village where a large number of returning Irish Soldiers were housed by the British Legion returning to Dublin after the First World War. Joe Gilliard's father had served in the trenches during World War One. With Ireland becoming an independent country in 1921 it was officially neutral during the Second World War but a large number of Irish people volunteered to serve in the British Canadian and US Forces. On the road that he lived nearly all the young men volunteered to join the British Forces, probably because all had relations who fought in the First World War. In all seven young men from the same road died during the War. Joe received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 11th February 1944. His brother saw service in the War in an Air Sea Rescue role. My thanks to Mr Les Molloy, nephew of P/O Joseph Gilliard, for the photographs and information he has been willing to share with regard his uncle and for the help his mother has been able to give through him.
Lionel Rorke was born in the USA in 1916. His mother Wilhemina Rorke married John Hanna in 1922 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and the family then moved to John's home in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. He attended Westview Elementary School from 1928-1930 and then attended Brooks High School in 1933.
The funeral procession makes its way through Sutton on the Forest to the village church (Photo Mr L. Molloy).
Joseph Gilliard's coffin is carried into the church by fellow 432 Squadron members (photo Mr L. Molloy).
I visited the crash site with Mr Andrew Hunter in March 2008 after he carried out the leg-work to locate the crash site. A sizeable water-filled hole remains in the woodland where part of the aircraft exploded. A small number of pieces of wreckage were found around this hole including a parachute harness buckle. There is evidence at this crater to suggest the site had been dug many years ago.
A parachute buckle.
A couple of part numbers. The upper one with the "SFB" prefix refers to the piece being related to the Bristol Hercules engines or the cowls and the lower one with the "57" prefix confirms the aircraft as being a Halifax type and the "B" letter as being from a wing section.
