Halifax DG342 at Croft airfield.

At 16.05hrs on the 8th September 1943 this aircraft took off from Croft airfield for those on board to undertake a dual control flying exercise combined with a basic circuits and landings exercise as part of the training with 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit. During the exercise and while one of the series of landings was being made at Croft at 16.20hrs the aircraft swung to starboard, the swung was over-corrected and as it then swung to port the undercarriage collapsed. There may also have been an instructor flying in the aircraft as well as the two trainees. The two trainee pilots involved were twin brothers and sadly only one would survived the war.

Pilot - Sgt William Burnard Byers RCAF (R/57632). Of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Pilot - Sgt George James Byers RCAF (R/57631). Of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Both William and George Byers were born on 19th March 1920 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and were the sons of William Burnard (Snr) and Lilly Byers. Both young men enlisted together on 20th March 1940 in Vancouver and both then trained and then served as aero engine mechanics in Canada until January 1942 when they both re-mustered as aircrew and were selected to train as pilots. George Byers was awarded his pilot's Wings on 4th December 1942 and in all probability William was awarded his around the same date. George's service file then gives the unit's he was posted to on arrival in the UK, his brother William may also have gone through exactly the same training units on the same start dates. George was posted to 14 (P)AFU on 6th April 1943, 23 OTU on 8th June 1943, 1664 HCU on 28th August 1943 before posting to 429 Squadron on 27th September 1943. William was posted to 429 Squadron on completion of the course at 1664 HCU.

George Byers flew as a second pilot to F/Lt Pentony's crew in Halifax JD327 on the night of 2nd / 3rd October 1943 for operational experience just prior to beginning operational flying with his own crew with 429 Squadron soon after. On this flight the target was Frankfurt but the Halifax was attacked by a night fighter and badly damaged, the fuel tanks had been holed and on the return to England the aircraft was abandoned low of fuel over Crowborough, Sussex. Sadly two of the crew did not survived. George Byers then began flying operationally with his own crew but was killed flying with 429 Squadron on 3rd November 1943 when Halifax JD326 failed to return from Dusseldorf.

William Byers flew on the operational raid on 3rd November 1943 when his brother failed to return to Leeming, he completed a Tour with 429 Squadron and was awarded the DFC for service with them, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He survived the War.

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