At 10.54hrs on Thursday, 19th August 1943 this aircraft had just taken off from Rufforth airfield so the airmen could undertake a training flight with 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit. The aircraft did not contain a bomb aimer or navigator as it was deemed they were not needed for such a basic flying exercise and they were left on the ground at Ruffurth. Just one minute after taking off and while flying directly into the sun the tail of Halifax DG420 was struck by the starboard wing tip of Halifax R9497 which was also undertaking a training flight flying from Riccall airfield. A detailed crash investigation followed and it was thought likely that the crew of Halifax DG420 had not seen the other aircraft before they collided head on because of the sun but there was reason for the crew of R9497 not to see DG420. Both aircraft crashed on the Tadcaster side of Copmanthorpe killing all on board both aircraft and injuring some civilians on the ground. This aircraft is said to have crashed onto land over which the sweeping bend for the fly-over for the A64 / A1237 bridge was built in more recent years. In all fourteen airmen died as a result of this accident and all their bodies were recovered to Marston Moor airfield to await burial.
John Dawson was a boy working a field alongside Copmanthorpe Lane with Mr Matthew Atkinson when they saw one of the crashing aircraft come over tree-tops directly towards them. They attempted to run clear but were showered with burning fuel and both sustained serious burns. John Dawson managed to put the flames out on Mr Atkinson but both would spend many months recovering from their injuries. Brian Mennell's book "Wings Over York" gives a good account of this incident and he has found a number of witnesses to the crash. I also credit historian Brian Lunn with recording this incident. Halifax DG420 had been damaged only two weeks prior to this crash when it hit it's tailplane on a fence when landing on the wrong runway at Rufforth.
I had previously listed F/O Murray Wallace as being an instructor at 1663 HCU at the time of his death but upon viewing his service records and the Court of Inquiry held in them there is no evidence of this. Murray Bonner was seated in the pilot's seat and was very much a trainee with just over one hour flying time solo on the Halifax type. Sgt Ravine was seated in the second pilot's seat at the time of the crash but he is also not listed as being an instructor either, Ravine is listed elsewhere as being the first pilot, this is obviously not correct given what the court of inquiry says. What I believe was the case is that there were two trainee pilots on board with each pilot being on board with their own flight engineer.
Pilot - F/O Murray Wallace Bonner RCAF (J/21902), aged 23, of Miniota, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/A/5).
Second Pilot - Sgt Donald Charles Ravine RAF (569748), aged 22, of St.Albans, Hertfordshire. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/A/8).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Norman John Hart RAFVR (1194241), aged 22, of Longham. Buried Hampreston Churchyard, Dorset.
Flight Engineer - Sgt John Howison Townsend RAFVR (1568521), aged 20, of Lawton. Buried Dundee Eastern Necropolis, Angus.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Peter Cross Parrott RAFVR (1174427), aged 23, Sunbury-on-Thames. Buried Sunbury New Cemetery, Middlesex.
Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick David Read RAFVR (1323650), aged 19, of Upper Sydenham, London. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/A/7).
Air Gunner - Sgt Albert Edward Gilverson RCAF (R/184720), aged 21, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/A/6).
Civilian - Mr Matthew Atkinson. Seriously injured.
Civilian - Master John Dawson. Seriously injured.
Murray Bonner was born on 8th March 1920 at Miniota, Manitoba, Canada and was the son of James Wallace and Janet Eliza (nee Howard) Bonner. His father ran his own farm and Murray worked on there as a young man. He enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg on 1st August 1941 and after training in Canada he was was awarded his pilot's flying badge and a commission on 23rd October 1942. He arrived in the UK in November 1942 and trained at 14 (P)AFU, 1518 BAT Flight and 19 OTU before posting to 1663 HCU on 1st August 1943. I had previously listed him as being an instructor at 1663 HCU at the time of his death but upon viewing his service records and the Court of Inquiry held in them there is no evidence of this. Sgt Ravine is listed as being the first pilot / captain of the aircraft elsewhere but the court of inquiry states that he was the second pilot and seated in the second pilot's seat. Murray Bonner was seated in the pilot's seat and was very much the trainee with just over one hour flying time solo on the Halifax type. His brother Joseph William Bonner served in the RCAF in the UK during WW2.
Albert Gilverson was born on 2nd August 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Albert Bardette and Edith Walker (nee Sorley) Gilverson. As a young man he worked for the Dominion Bank as a teller in Toronto. He enlisted for RCAF service there on 10th August 1942 and after training was awarded his air gunner's flying badge on 26th April 1943. He immediately posted to the UK and after training at 19 OTU was posted to 1663 HCU on 1st August 1943.
Other members of this crew who were buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Frederick Read was born on 4th April 1924.