Halifax DT584 at Wombleton airfield.
On 10th December 1943 this 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft made a heavy landing at Wombleton at 23.15hrs and swung off runway into Wombleton's infamous mud sustaining slight damage when the tail wheel unit broke off.
Pilot - P/O William Ernest Krampe RCAF (J/24321).
Navigator - P/O Alexander Gale Fleming RCAF (J/23722).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Gerard Tillmann RCAF (R/155015).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Leroy George Jewell RCAF (161346).
Flight Engineer - Sgt J L MacKintosh RAFVR (1822242).
Air Gunner - Sgt Gerald Alphonse Bottrell RCAF (R/198039).
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward Gomer Evans RCAF (R/187401).
On the night of 24th / 25th March 1944 the other six airmen named above were flying Halifax LW435 on Ops to Berlin when the aircraft was shot down over Germany. Krampe and Tillman lost their lives while the others became PoWs. Those who died are buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
The bulk of this crew had been posted to 23 O.T.U. on 3rd August 1943 and to 1666 H.C.U. on 19th November 1943. As a full crew they were then posted to 424 Squadron on 23rd December 1943. On the night of 19th / 20th February 1944 the crew were one of a number of 424 Squadron aircraft that were to have been flown an operational flight. Waiting their turn to take off in Halifax LW433, which was fourth in the queue at Skipton on Swale airfield, they had taxied to the runway and stopped to await their turn. At 23.52hrs Halifax HX316 ran into the rear of Halifax LW433. Unfortuately the rear gunner, Gerald Bottrell was in his turret at the time was killed instantly when a propeller struck the turret.
Halifax DT584 was built to contract B982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered as new to 77 Squadron at Elvington on 7th November 1942. The following day it transferred to 51 Squadron at Snaith when the unit converted from Whitley MkV's where it carried the code "MH-J". As a result of the crash ond 3rd January 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage was the initial damage but this was upgraded to Re-Cat.B shortly after. On 12th January 1943 it was transported to the Handley Page repair works at Rawcliffe for a repair in works. With this complete it was flown to 8 MU on 30th March 1943 and was placed into store. On 16th August 1943 it was flown to 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit at Dalton and moved with the unit to Wombleton on 5th November 1943. On 10th December 1943 it made a heavy landing at Wombleton and suffered Cat.A(c)/FA damage which was repaired on site. It was written off at Wombleton on 14th August 1944 when it swung on landing at Wombleton whilst on circuit training. It ground looped, taking off the undercarriage. Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on the same date.