On 3rd November 1942 a number of flash bombs exploded on board this aircraft soon after taking off from Driffield airfield. The aircraft dived into the ground from between 150 feet and 200 feet sadly killing the three in the aircraft. I do not yet know the location of where this accident occurred other than it was in the region of Driffield airfield and it occurred at 20.00hrs.
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, of Mission, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire (grave 6191).
Observer - Sgt Hedley Walter Carter RAFVR (926380), aged 20, of Wallisdown, Bournemouth. Buried Talbot Churchyard, Bournemouth, Dorset (grave 989).
Observer - Sgt Francis John Faye RAFVR (1529983), aged 22, of Skelton/Brotton. 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 in 1922. He was a 1652 Conversion Unit airman on attachment to 1484 Flight for training at the time of his death.
Francis Faye born in the Guisborough district of Yorkshire in 1920, his wife Dorothie Nancie Faye lived in Rugby, Warwickshire. He was on a period of attachment from 408 Squadron to 1484 Flight for training at the time of his death.