In the early hours of 24th October 1942 this 102 Squadron aircraft was diverted to land at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield on return to the UK from Ops to Genoa because of poor weather over Pocklington. At 03.31hrs the aircraft was attempting to land at Holme on Spalding Moor but let down on top of Halifax DT512 and crashed. W1181 skidded to a halt on it's belly and the crew escaped serious injury, sadly two in DT512 were killed and the photograph shown above depicts the crash scene the following morning. The correct identities of many of this crew are not yet known. It was found that a green signal flare was fired by a member of the ground-based flying control to signal to the crew of DT512 that they were to land, however, the crew of W1181 believed that the green signal was for them and landed in error.
Halifax W1181 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury. It was immediately taken on charge by 10 Squadron at Leeming on 5th July 1942 but was transferred to 102 Squadron at Topcliffe on 16th July 1942. 102 Squadron moved to Pocklington during August 1942 and it was first flown operationally by 102 Squadron on 24th September 1942. As a result of the crash at Holme on Spalding Moor on 24th October 1942 Cat.B/FB damage was the initial damage assessment but five days later it was further assessed and found to be beyond repair so was Re-Cat.E. It was struck off charge on 29th October 1942.
Pilot - F/Sgt Idris Lawton Berry RAFVR (655099).
Second Pilot - WO Edward William Cranwell RAFVR (741969).
Navigator - F/O Frederick William Hargreaves RAFVR (119473).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Derrick Hill Fortescue Hubbard RAFVR (1256891).
Air Gunner - Sgt James William Crouch RAFVR (1323336).
Air Gunner - Sgt Reginald John Horton RAFVR(AAF) (846505).
Flight Engineer - Sgt William Edward Pattison RAF (649343).
? - F/Sgt J B Bell.
Earlier in 1942 a number of those listed above had just been posted to 102 Squadron, Berry, Pattison, Hubbard and Horton were flying a training flight in Halifax W1238 on 22nd August 1942 when the aircraft crashed in Wales due to engine failure and fire, all survived.
Frederick "Eric" Hargreaves was born on 29th September 1912 in Gannow, near Burnley, Lancashire. When he enlisted into the RAFVR in January 1941 he was working as a sorting clerk and telegraphist. After initial training he was posted to 24 OTU at Honeybourne where he learnt to fly as a member of a bomber crew flying Wellingtons. After this training he was posted to Marston Moor for HCU training and later to Pocklington and joined 102 Squadron. He received his commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 11th April 1942 and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 11th October 1942 and later to F/Lt (war subs) on 11th April 1944. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 1st January 1945 for distinguished service and having survived the War and was released from service in April 1946. He finally relinquished his commission in the RAFVR as F/Lt (retaining the rank of S/Ldr) on 29th September 1957. I thank his grandson Mr Peter Taylor for contacting me in 2010 and for the information he was kind enough to provide this account.
Reginald Horton was born in Stoke Newington in April 1913. He had been with 102 Squadron for well over a year when this incident to Halifax W1181 occurred. F/Sgt Horton was awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 12th March 1943, the citation reads.. "F/Sgt Horton has displayed grea t coolness and courage in action over enemy territory on many occasions. He is an air gunner of outstanding merit who has been particularly successful against night fighters." He received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 13th February 1943, he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 13th August 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 13th February 1945. After service with 102 Squadron he was probably posted to a non-operational unit for a time before being later posted to 640 Squadron and flew as F/O Easton's regular rear gunner. Having risen to the rank of F/Lt was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 17th July 1945. Post-War he remained in the RAFVR and relinquished his commission in the General Duties Branch on 15th December 1949 on appointment to the re-constituted RAFVR. In the late-1950's undertook a series of transfers between branches, firstly to the Equipment Branch, then to the Technical Branch of the RAF and he later transferred to the Provost Branch of the RAF om October 1959. He finally relinquished his commission as F/Lt on 15th December 1954 after a fine period of service to his country. He died in Augsut 1968. I thank his son for contacting me in January 2021.
William Pattison was posted away from 102 Squadron soon after this accident at Holme on Spalding Moor, he later flew with 78 Squadron and was awarded the DFM for service with this unit, Gazetted on 21st April 1944, but for service prior to his commission (no citation for the award has been found). He received his commission to P/O on probation (emergency) on 12th February 1944 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 12th August 1944 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 12th February 1946. He died on 26th July 2005.
Sgt Bell had survived the crash of Halifax W1167 at Pocklington airfield on 13th October 1942.
Idris "Eddie" Berry later received a commission and was awarded the DFC for service with 142 Squadron in Summer 1945.
William Cranwell's service is worthy of more than just a few lines here. On 10th September 1940 he was slightly injured in the crash of Harvard P5783 at Chipping Norton. He had then served in Fighter Command with 610 Squadron in the later stages of the Battle of Britain which qualified him as being one of "The Few". In 1942 he transferred to Bomber Command. For service with 102 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted in August 1943.
Sgt Crouch was made a PoW on 3rd / 4th February 1943 when Halifax W7921 failed to return from Ops to Hamburg.