Wellington BJ605 (probably) at Dishforth airfield.
On the evening of 9th January 1943 the crew of this 425 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a mine laying flight, on their return to England the aircraft crashed on landing at 20.39hrs. The aircraft almost certainly landed at Dishforth but at the time of creating this webpage the exact airfield is not known. Bad weather was
effecting Dishforth on this night. Some other aircraft from 425 Squadron were diverted to Topcliffe that are listed as landing after Wellington BJ605 which does suggest that the runway had been blocked at Dishforth around the time BJ605 was landing so later returns were diverted to Topcliffe to avoid the wreckage. The squadron records do not list any damage being sustained but there is damage listed on the aircraft's AM Form 78 on this date.
Pilot - Sgt Jean-Paul Michaud RCAF, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - /Sgt Jack H Woodrow RCAF, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Navigator - P/O Joseph Donat Victor Lariviere RCAF (J/8133), of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Frank Harold Rowan RCAF, of Orillia, Ontario, Canada.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph Arthur Rowland Goulet RCAF (R/56139).
Air Gunner - Sgt M T McMillan.
Wellington BJ605 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd., at Chester and was awaiting collection in May 1942. It was initially flown to 48 MU on 16th June 1942 and was taken on charge by 425 Squadron on 8th July 1942, not long after they formed at Dishforth. It received minor Cat.Ac/FA damage in a flying accident on 9th September 1942 and was repaired on site. Once repaired it was returned to 425 Squadron on 26th September 1942. On 22nd November 1942 it received Cat.Ac/FB damage during an operational flight to bomb Turin, the fuselage received minor damage which damaged the radio equipment. Despite the damage the crew managed to land safely at Oakington. The aircraft may have remained at Oakington where it was repaired on site, or it was flown back to Dishforth where it was repaired on site. It was next used operationally on 2nd January 1943. As a result of minor battle damage sustained on 9th January 1943 Cat.A/FB damage was the assessment and it was repaired on site by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It flew no more operational flights with 425 Squadron and by the end of April they had nearly completed exchanging their Wellington MkIII's for MkX's. This aircraft remained on charge with 425 Squadron until 21st May 1943 when it was taken on charge by 27 OTU on that date. It remained with 27 O.T.U. until being placed in MU storage at 8 MU on 30th March 1945. It was struck off charge on 12th May 1947.
Joseph Lariviere was later awarded the DFC for service with 427 Squadron, Gazetted on 23rd March 1945.
Frank Rowan was later awarded the DFC for service with 514 Squadron, Gazetted on 25th September 1945.