The three airmen flying in this aircraft were part of No.1484 (Bomber) Gunnery Flight and were based at Driffield airfield. The pilot was a staff pilot from the unit but the two other airmen were attached to the unit for additional training from other bomber units. During the evening of 3rd November 1942 they were due to undertake a practice bombing exercise and the aircraft carried a number of flash bombs that were intended to be dropped during the flight. The aircraft took off from Driffield at 19.53hrs but after getting to around 100 feet above the ground it crossed the airfield boundary but then lost height and crashed. Witnesses stated that they saw a flash or burning inside the aircraft prior to the crash. Sadly all three airmen were killed in the crash and the aircraft disintergrated with fire destroying most of the wreckage. An investigation discounted a fire or explosion inside the aircraft prior to the crash but concluded that a fire or explosion in the starboard engine or wing was more likely to have occurred.
Oxford DF536 was built to contract B.55347/39 by Standard Motors Ltd. at Canley and was awaiting collection in September 1942. On 13th October 1942 it was taken on charge by 1484 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight at Driffield. As a result of the crash near Driffield on 3rd November 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat E2/FA Burnt and it was written off.
Pilot - WO2 John Joseph William Forster RCAF (R/92075), aged 29. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire (grave 6191).
Observer - Sgt Hedley Walter Carter RAFVR (926380), aged 20. Buried Talbot Churchyard, Bournemouth, Dorset (grave 989).
Observer - Sgt Francis John Faye RAFVR (1529983), aged 22. Buried Skelton and Brotton Cemetery, Brotton, Yorkshire (G/N/15).
John Forster was born on 26th January 1913 in Bedlington, Northumberland, England and was the son of John Charles and Alice (nee Candlish) Forster. The family emigrated to Canada in 1928 and he began working as a mechanic for the food canning Farmer's Can Company. He over the next twelve years he worked in the same job for two other companies, Canadian Canners Ltd and then American Can Company, as a mechanic mainly at the factory at Mission, British Columbia. His parents lived at Steelhead, British Columbia. He enlisted for RCAF service on 6th February 1941 in Vancouver and trained as a pilot in Canada, receiving his Pilot's Wings on 20th September 1941. He then had a period of leave just before he was due to be posted to the UK and married Theresa Marie Brenner on 23rd September 1941 in New Westminster, B.C. He left the UK shortly after and on arrival in the UK he trained at 3 SFTS and 14 OTU (or 17 OTU?) before posting to 420 Squadron on 1st July 1942. He was posted to No.1484 Flight on 24th September 1942 and was almost certainly there as a staff pilot rather than for training.
Hedley Carter was born in Epsom, Surrey on 10th April 1922 and was the son of Hedley Viacrs and Edith Lily (nee Girling) Carter. The family later moved to Wallisdown, Bournemouth, Dorset. He enlisted for RAF service on 20th May 1940. He was a 1652 Conversion Unit airman on attachment to 1484 Flight for training at the time of his death.
Francis Faye was born on 21st August 1920 at Saltburn, North Yorkshire and was the son of John and Mary Jane (nee Cush) Faye. The family lived at Carlin How. He enlisted for RAF service on 18th May 1941. He married Dorothie Nancie Goddard in 1942 at Rugby, Warwickshire probably while training at an OTU in the county. He was on a period of attachment from 408 Squadron to 1484 Flight for training at the time of his death.