Wellington W5491 near Tibthorpe, Driffield.
On 9th January 1942 the crew of this 104 Squadron aircraft were to undertake a day-time training flight, they took off from Driffield airfield at 11.50hrs but because the flap lever was left in the down position the aircraft failed to climb away properly and clipped hedge close to the airfield. 500 yards later it stalled and crashed near Tibthorpe Lodge Farm to the west of the airfield. The wreckage caught fire and unfortunately a number of the crew died of their injuries. Air historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast located small fragments on the surface at the crash site in December 2000 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location.
Pilot - Sgt William Kent Sloggatt RAAF (400604), aged 25, parents of Windsor, Victoria, Australia. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Sidney Reginald Bult RAF (553823), aged 19, of Sible Hedingham, Essex. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Observer - Sgt Alfred Charles Kingsley Parsons RAAF (402576), aged 27, of Nevertire, New South Wales, Australia. Died of injuries 19/1/1942. Buried Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner (Gunnery Leader) - F/O Vincent Ernest Tapp RCAF (C/4507), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Seriously injured.
Second Pilot - Sgt Aylmer John Brown RAFVR (1377772). Seriously injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Harrison John Phillip RAFVR (1199548). Slightly injured.
Alfred Parsons was born on 5th May 1914 in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia and enlisted in Sydney on 16th September 1940. He was working as a station hand
when he enlisted into the RAAF. On arrival in the UK he trained at 22 OTU from 4th August 1941 and was posted to 104 Squadron on 3rd November 1941. He died in
Driffield airfield sick quarters on the night of 19th / 20th January 1942. His father George William Parsons died on 13th January 1917. I thank Elizabeth Burke
for kindly supplying this photograph of Sgt Alfred Parsons for inclusion on this webpage and for the additional information she was kind enough to provide.
William Sloggatt was born on 13th March 1916 in Melbourne, where he enlisted on 18th September 1940. On arrival in the UK
he continued his training at 22 OTU on 21st July 1941. He was then posted to 104 Squadron on 11th October 1941.
F/Sgt Bult's grave in Driffield Cemetery.
405 Squadron was the first RCAF bomber squadron to serve overseas, they received delivery of their new Wellingtons in late April / early May 1941.
Wellington W5491 was built to contract B.71441/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Weybridge and was awaiting collection in early April 1941. It was received by 51 MU on 18th April 1941 and was taken on charge by the newly formed 405 Squadron at Driffield on 6th May 1941. As a result of damage caused by enemy action on 4th June 1941 Cat.Ac damage was sustained following assessment on 11th June 1941. It was repaired on site and returned to unit, possibly after 405 Squadron had moved to Pocklington on 20th June 1941. On 16th / 17th August 1941 it was damaged on Ops and the gunner, Sgt R P Payton, was killed. The pilot was able to return and land at Pocklington with damage to the starboard wheel, the rear turret and a fire in the rear of the aircraft. Cat.B/FB damage appears to have been recorded and it was again repaired on site. On 15th November 1941 it was returned to 405 Squadron but was transferred to 104 Squadron at Driffield on 31st December 1941. On 9th January 1942 aircraft hit a hedge on take off from Driffield for a training flight as a result of incorrect flap selection and crashed burning out. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded after assessment and it was struck off charge on 18th January 1942.
Harrison Phillip recovered from his injuries following the accident at Tibthorpe. He was later posted to 148 Squadron and was killed on 4th July 1944 when Halifax JP179
crashed on an SOE flight in Yugoslavia. He was twenty one years old and is buried in Belgrade War Cemetery, Serbia.
Vincent Tapp was posted from 405 Squadron to 104 Squadron on 6th January 1942 as Gunnery Leader. He lost the lower part of his leg below his knee as a result of this flying accident and these injuries saw him repatriated to Canada in May 1942.
The CWGC online database has made two errors in naming the dead with regard this incident, William Sloggatt's middle name is listed as "Rent" and Alfred Parsons' is listed as "Ringsley". Their service files are available online and both confirm their proper names.