Wellington HE149 near Hutton, Driffield.

On 31st December 1942 this 466 Squadron aircraft was being flown on a night time local training flight in the general area of Driffield when the revs on the port engine rose to an excessive level at around 1000 feet above the ground. In attempting to reduce the revs the pilot reduced the throttle setting but this caused excessive drag. Height was lost to just 250 feet the pilot eventually feathered the propeller. Feathering this propeller caused problems with the aircraft's hydraulics. Because they were close to Driffield airfield the second pilot managed to crank down the undercarriage legs using the emergency system but by the time the legs were down the pilot realised that the aircraft had overshot the runway. He attempted to fly a circuit of the airfield but found that he could not maintain height in a turn so attempted a forced landing in a field near Highfield Farm, between Southburn and Hutton. Owing to there being no hydraulics, the undercarriage could then not be raised and he had not the use of the flaps. The aircraft ended up crashing into farm buildings at 19.35hrs at Highfield Farm. The rear gunner had just rotated his turret to the port side and was thrown from his turret in the crash. He sustained the most serious injuries including a broken leg, these injuries later saw him repatriated to Canada. The rest of the crew escaped the aircraft before a fire took hold and the aircraft was destroyed.

Both Wellington HE383 and HE149 suffered similar propeller failures on the same night. Two days later the Station's Commanding Officer ordered that night flying be suspended until the causes behind the propeller failure be investigated and after discussions with the propeller manufacturer Rotol all aircraft involved in night-flying using this type of propeller should have their constant speed unit wiring inspected. Manufacturing workmanship faults in the selector switches were found.

Earlier in the War on 19th March 1941 four people had been killed at Highfield Farm when the Luftwaffe dropped a parachute mine in the area. Robert Severs (aged 51), his wife Gertrude Severs (aged 38) and their children Joan (aged 12) and Mary (aged 8) lost their lives.

Wellington HE149 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester and was awaiting collection in November 1942. It was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Driffield on 27th November 1942 and moved with them to Leconfield on 27th December 1942. As a result of the accident four days later on 31st December 1942 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assesment. It was struck off charge on 1st January 1943 having clocked up just 21 hours total flying time.

Pilot - Sgt Colin Foley Tozer RAAF (406585). Injured.

Pilot - Sgt Cyril Thomas King RAFVR (1330744). Uninjured.

Navigator - Sgt Gordon Kenneth Young RCAF (R/90189). Uninjured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Raymond Treacher RNZAF (NZ.412910). Uninjured.

Air Gunner - F/Sgt John Renyard Norton RCAF (R/87402). Injured.

Colin Foley was born 10th September 1921 in Subiaco, Western Australia and enlisted for RAAF service in Perth on 3rd February 1941. After basic training and gaining his Wings on arriving in the UK he trained at 14 AFU (beginning 9th March 1942), 1518 B.A.T.Flight (beginning 25th April 1942), 14 (P)AFU (beginning 5th May 1942), 13 OTU (beginning 23rd June 1942) and 14 OTU (beginning 25th August 1942) before posting to 466 Squadron on 28th November 1942. He flew his first operational flight as a second pilot with a 10 Squadron crew on 10th December 1942 and as a result was the first Australian 466 Squadron pilot to fly an operational flight. While flying Ops to Essen on 5th March 1943 in Wellington HZ256 when it collided with 196 Squadron Wellington HE396 over the North Sea, Sgt Tozer flew his damaged Wellington back to base. On 12th March 1943 Tozer was the pilot of Wellington HZ271 again flying Ops to Essen when a flak burst struck the aircraft injuring Sgt Treacher in the shoulder. Colin Tozer received his commission to P/O on 15th March 1943. On the night of 16th / 17th April 1943 he was the pilot of Wellington HE501 on Ops to Mannheim which failed to return. He had flown fourteen operational flights by this date. He is buried at Seraincourt Churchyard, Ardennes, France and was twenty one years old. Sgt's Young and White were also with him on this night and were also killed.

Gordon Young was born on 14th December 1920, he was twenty three years old when he died in April 1943 and was promoted to WO2 after his death. Sgt Jones was twenty one years old.

Sgt Treacher was injured in the shoulder by shrapnel on Ops to Essen on 12th March 1943 in Wellington HZ271, he was posted as "non-effective sick" to SHQ Driffield by the end of March 1943. After this date nothing more is known about him.
John Norton was born on 23rd July 1923 and enlisted for RCAF service on 25th February 1941. He was posted for repatriatin in September 1943.

Back to monthly table.