On the evening of 18th September 1943 the crew of this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Riccall airfield to undertake a night training flight, some time into the flight the aircraft suffered from either the loss of, or the breaking up of a propeller blade on the port outer engine. This may have then caused a slight displacement in the port outer engine. This incident was one of a number of similar accidents in September 1943 caused by the failure of propellers or propeller blades. At around 23.30hrs the aircraft flew into cottages located on Chapel Hill, in the village of Darrington, near Pontefract. The crash and resulting fire destroyed various buildings including a small chapel and four domestic houses. The crash also killed four members of the same family in one house (while three other members of the same family survived) and injured at least four other civilians in other properties. The injured civilians were taken to Pontefract General Infirmary. 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit suffered three flying accidents on this night with this being the most serious in terms of loss of life. The CWGC database lists the dates of the deaths of the members of the aircrew as being on both 18th and 19th September 1943. I assume from this that the dates refer to when their bodies were located to confirm their death, rather than the date of when the aircraft had crashed.
Air historian Brian Lunn has researched this incident and his self-published booklet is the best account I have come across. This incident is also covered in more detail on websites linked to the village and I would direct anyone with an interest to those pages. A memorial was dedicated in Darrington village on 18th September 2018, the 75th anniversary of this incident. There is a Facebook group that gives more information.
Pilot - Sgt Edward George Wilson RAFVR (1320727), aged, of London. Buried City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery. Died 18th September 1943.
Navigator - Sgt John Arthur Crudgington RAFVR (1318163), aged 20, of Beckenham. Buried Beckenham Cemetery, Kent. Died 18th September 1943.
Bomb Aimer - F/O David Beeley RAFVR (151229), aged 23, of Rotherham (Masbrough) Cemetery, Yorkshire. Died 18th September 1943.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Cook RAFVR (1338457), aged 20, of Seaham. Buried Seaham Cemetery, Durham. Died 19th September 1943.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Thomas Glyn Roberts RAFVR (1677382), aged 30, of Heswell. Buried Birkenhead (Landican) Cemetery, Cheshire. Died 19th September 1943.
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Clelland RAFVR (1569956), aged 19, of Dysart. Buried Kirkaldy (Hayfield) Cemetery, Fife. Died 19th September 1943.
Civilian - Mrs Mabel Una Dean, aged 66, of Glencoe House, Darrington, Yorkshire. Burial location unknown. Died 18th September 1943.
Civilian - Mr Harry Dean, aged 68, of Glencoe House, Darrington, Yorkshire. Burial location unknown. Died 18th September 1943.
Civilian - Mr William Dean, aged 33, of Glencoe House, Darrington, Yorkshire. Burial location unknown. Died 18th September 1943.
Civilian - Miss Ellen Mary Dean, aged 36, of Glencoe House, Darrington, Yorkshire. Burial location unknown. Died 18th September 1943.
Civilian - Mr Midgley Pease, aged 65. Injured. Died later in 1943.
Civilian - Mrs Hilda E M Pease, aged 62. Injured.
Civilian - Mr George Wardell, aged 56? Injured.
Civilian - Mrs Alice M Wardell, aged 57. Injured.
Civilian - Miss Mabel J Dean, aged 26. Uninjured.
Civilian - Miss Gyneth Alma Dean, aged 24. Uninjured.
Civilian - Miss Nona Dean, aged 19. Uninjured.
Gravestones of two members of the aircrew killed in this incident.