Halifax R9427 at Pocklington airfield.
On 23rd April 1942 this 78 Squadron Halifax was one of five being flown from 78 Squadron, based at Croft, to Pocklington, where they were all to be transferred to 405 Squadron who were converting to the Halifax type from flying Wellingtons. This specific aircraft appears to have been heading to join 405 Conversion Flight. The only runway avilable to land on was at ninety degrees to a strong gusty crosswind. At 11.44hrs the aircraft crashed while trying to land at Pocklington and was badly damaged. The crew are believed to have escaped injury.
Pilot - P/O Harold Ernest Bedford RAFVR (100577).
Crew - Names unknown but possibly some of his crew involved in the loss of Halifax W7699 later in the year.
Halifax R9427 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. On 25th January 1942 it was taken on charge directly from Handley Page Ltd. by 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George as new and the aircraft completed no operational flights with them. It was transferred to 78 Squadron at Croft on 27th February 1942. As a result of the crash at Pocklington on 23rd April 1942 the damage was assessed as being Cat.E/FA. It was struck off charge on 30th April 1942. It must have been pretty badly damaged for it not to have been converted into an instructional airframe which would probably have been a help in converting aircrew at the time.
Harold Bedford recieved a commission on 17th May 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation and rose to F/O exactly a year later. While undertaking conversion training at 1652 CU on 24th February 1942 he was landing Halifax L9609 when the undercarriage collapsed. F/O Bedford was killed flying Halifax W7669 with 78 Squadron on 5th June 1942 when it crashed close to Croft airfield in Yorkshire and the loss is detailed on this website. He and two other members of his crew were killed while four were injured. He was thirty one years old and buried in Upton-cum-Chalvey Churchyard, Slough, Buckinghamshire.