Halifax W1103 near Croft.
On 20th May 1942 this 78 Squadron aircraft was been given an airtest and carried a rather heavy load of fuel. While flying at around 400 feet on the approach to land at Croft the port outer engine failed during a turn. The pilot did not have time to feather the propeller on the failed engine and the aircraft was flying at such low speed nothing else could be done other than to crash land. The aircraft lost height and crashed near New Spa Farm, near Croft at 11.05hrs. One member of the crew sustained slight injuries. It was felt the aircraft crashed just as it was beginning to enter a spin.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Geoffrey Douglas Leyland RAF (45071).
Second Pilot - Sgt Kenneth James Stanbury Harvey RAFVR (1268637).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Colin Gray Pugsley RAFVR (1307368).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Joseph Edward Richard Lyons RAF (335281).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Frederick Burrell RAF AAF (804355). Injured.
Passenger (Instrument Repairer) - AC2 J W Hydes RAFVR (1148184).
Halifax W1103 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Croft on 8th May 1942 and as a result of the crash just twelve days later Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment. It was then struck off charge on 31st May 1942.
Geoffrey Leyland was a Territorial Army officer when he was granted a temporary commission in the RAF on 4th December 1940 to P/O he rose to F/O (war subs) on 4th December 1941. He was in the rank of Acting S/Ldr in May 1942. On 2nd June 1942 he and some of those listed above were flying in 78 Squadron Halifax W7698 on Ops to Essen when the aircraft collided with a night fighter. He and Sgt Pugsley were made PoWs while Sgt Lyons was killed. Post war Leyland reverted back to the Terrirorial Army continuing his service into the 1950s.