Halifax BB304 near Lissett airfield.

On the 18th September 1943 the crew of this aircraft were flying a training flight as part of their training with 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit. During the flight on this date the aircraft the starboard inner engine began to vibrate and then fail but the crew were unable to feather it. The engine then caught fire and then fell away from the aircraft. A force landed was made near Lissett airfield, at Gransmoor Lodge, at 14.34hrs but just prior to landing the port wing struck a tree. All the crew sustained injuries and the aircraft was badly damaged. This was one of a number of very similar Halifax propeller failings during September 1943. Historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton, Rodney Robinson and Ken Reast located small fragments on the surface at the crash site in March 2002 with permission from the landowner, confirming the crash location. The pilot had been involved in a minor mishap earlier in September 1943 when Halifax V9989 crashed at Melbourne airfield, his crew then may well have contained some or all of those named below.

Pilot - F/Sgt Edgar Thomas Bridson Vicary RAAF (414370).

Navigator - Sgt Frank Anderson RAFVR (1563293).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Cyril Johns RAFVR (1318517).

Air Gunner - Sgt John Cahill RAFVR (1495745).

Flight Engineer - Sgt David Aneuryn James RAFVR (1179006).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Charles Wilson RNZAF (NZ.421339).

Edgar Vicary was born on 3rd May 1915 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia and enlisted for RAAF service in Brisbane. He was initially posted to 158 Squadron after his time with 1658 HCU but was then posted to 640 Squadron in 1944. On 15th / 16th February 1944 he (with Sgt Johns and Sgt James) baled out of 640 Squadron Halifax LW439 over Cassop, Durham after the aircraft had been badly damaged by flak.

John Cahill was soon posted to 158 Squadron and was killed on 22nd October 1943 when Halifax LW297 failed to return from Ops to Kassel. He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery.

William Wilson was also posted to 158 Squadron, he was made a PoW on 25th October 1944 when Halifax MZ945 failed to return from Ops to Essen.

Frank Anderson received a commission on 21st March 1944. He also served with 158 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for service with them, Gazetted on 4th August 1944. The citation for his DFC reads.. "In the course of his tour of operations, Pilot Officer Anderson has taken part in five attacks on Berlin. He has proved himself to be a confident and devoted member of aircraft crew, whose navigational ability has played a prominent part in the successes obtained. He has set a worthy example." He survived the War.

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