Halifax BB273 at Marston Moor airfield.
At 20.15hrs on 19th March 1943 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft swung on take off from Marston Moor airfield and left the runway, one of the undercarriage legs dropped into a trench on the grass and sunk causing the aircraft to pivot around and the undercarriage to collapse.
Instructor Pilot - S/Ldr Jeffrey Peter Meurisse Haydon DFC RAAF (402352).
Trainee Pilot - Sgt Reginald William Frederick Munns RAFVR (1384900).
Rear Gunner - Name unknown. Minor head injuries.
Peter Haydon was born on 6th April 1913 in Canberra, Australia. He enlisted into the RAAF in August 1940 and after initial training he arrived in the UK, he was granted a commission in April 1941 and trained at 10 OTU. On completion of this training he was posted to 51 Squadron in November 1941. He was posted to 158 Squadron in March 1942 with his last flight with them being on the night of 6th/7th August 1942, on this night he was the pilot of Halifax W7750 which was badly damaged on an operational flight, he and his then crew had baled out and the aircraft crashed in Belgium. He and a number of his crew were successful in evading capture via the Comete Line and were able to return to the UK via Spain. He never flew operationally in Europe again and was posted to 1652 HCU for instructional duties. For service with 158 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 5th February 1943. The very brief citation for his DFC reads.."In various capacities as member of aircraft crew this officer has displayed great gallantry and determination in attacking targets in enemy occupied territory."
He served at 1652 H.C.U. until December 1943 when he received a posting back to the Australia to join the Pacific theatre of war. He survived the War and later worked as a civilian for the Australia Navy. He died on 29th August 2012.
Flight Engineer - Sgt William Cecil Smirk RAFVR (983888).
Navigator - Sgt William Walter Smith RAFVR (1338375).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Clifford Wyatt Tomlinson RAFVR (1233323).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Richard Reginald Wilson RAFVR (1125318).
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt Eric Fedi RCAF (R/172702).
Rear Gunner - Sgt Douglas Vernon Webb RAFVR (1585688).
Halifax BB273 was built to contract B.124357/40 by the London Passenger Transport Board Ltd, at Leavesden and was taken on charge by 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor on 29th December 1942. As a result of loosing the tail wheel there on 20th February 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site, with it being returned to 1652 H.C.U. use on 9th March 1943. On 19th March 1943 it crashed on take off from Marston Moor, Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge.
Reginald Munns was born in London in 1921 but moved to Chelmsford as a boy. He played for Chelmsford City Football Club prior to enlisting into the RAFVR. He and his crew were posted to 77 Squadron on 28th March 1943 and he flew his first operational flight on 14th April 1943. He later received his commission on 17th June 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). On 7th September 1943 he was flying 77 Squadron Halifax DT793 on Ops to Munich and failed to return. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial and was twenty two years old. It is possible that his crew on this occasion were training with him in March 1943 and some may have been involved in the mishap at Marston Moor to BB273. His crew in DT793 were..