Halifax DK140 at Leeming airfield.
At 17.15hrs on 16th June 1943 this 427 Squadron aircraft was in process of landing at Leeming airfield as part of a training flight when, in avoiding a group of airmen who were on the airfield, the pilot deliberately swung the aircraft. As a result the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft was badly damaged, it was not repaired.
Pilot - F/Sgt Eric Arthur Johnson RAFVR (1212389).
Pilot - Sgt Robert Lloyd Henry RCAF (R/114412).
Eric Johnson was born in Enson, Staffordshire was one of 427 Squadron's first pilots joining the squadron in late 1942 flying his first operational flight to Turin as a second pilot in December 1942. He was initially recommended for the DFM on 30th June 1943 when he had flown twenty operational flights but this must have been well after he was recommended for a commission because the London Gazette states that he received his commission on 15th March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (147215) though 427 Squadron's ORB states that he only received notification of this in July 1943. He was recommended for the DFC on 20th July 1943 when he had flown twenty two flights, the DFC was granted and notification was printed in the London Gazette on 14th September 1943. He appears to have left 427 Squadron around September / October 1943 because he is not listed in their operational flying list after this. He was promoted to F/O on 15th September 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 15th March 1945. He remained in the RAF after the war and was also awarded the Air Force Cross, Gazetted on 1st January 1947 while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr. He left the RAF reliquishing his commission on 20th January 1950. He later received the British Empire Medal. He died in April 2008 in Stafford aged 85.
Robert Henry was killed in a flying accident just weeks after this when Oxford DF471 crashed on the top of Great Coum, near Dent on 29th August 1943. He was twenty three years old and is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. My webpage on this accident is to be found by clicking here.