Halifax DT500 at Topcliffe airfield.
In the early hours of 28th July 1943 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Topcliffe airfield at 02.34hrs to be flown on a basic dual control training flight involving flying a series of short circuits of the airfield to practice taking off and landing at night. Ten minutes into the exercise the port tyre burst on landing, the aircraft came to rest with the undercarriage collapsed and it was not repaired.
Trainee Pilot - Sgt Robert Cyril Deegan RCAF (R/62559), of Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Trainee Pilot - Sgt James Harold Tovey RCAF (R/92996), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Robert Deegan was born in Smith Falls, Ontarion in 1916 and enlisted for RCAF service in January 1940 initially for ground work. He later re-mustered as aircrew and trained as a pilot in Canada before heading to the UK at the end of 1942. He was nearing the end of his training at 1659 HCU when this incident happened in July 1943. On 9th August 1943 he was flying as second pilot to a 427 Squadron crew in Halifax EB247 on Ops to Mannheim when the aircraft was badly damaged by a night-fighter, his captain managed to get the aircraft back to the UK and all on board baled out over Hampshire. For their actions three of the crew were awarded DFMs. Later in August 1943 Robert Deegan was posted to 420 Squadron and begun his operational flying as captain. For service with 420 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 13th October 1944.
James Tovey was soon posted to 434 Squadron and was killed on 7th September 1943 flying Halifax DK251 on Ops to Munich. He is buried at Durnbach War Cemetery. He was twenty three years old. This may have been his first operational flight with 434 Squadron.