Halifax DT648 at Snaith airfield.
This 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith at 18.33hrs tasked with bombing St.Nazaire, they released their bomb load over the target area at 13,500ft and made for home. During the return trip the port outer engine failed but the pilot was able to bring the aircraft back to Snaith. The crew failed to lower the flaps and at 00.38hrs on 1st March 1943 the landed at Snaith, the landing was fast. The main starboard tyre burst and the aircraft swung off the runway when the aircraft swung violently, possibly struck some form of building or hut and the definitely struck an aircrew bus which was on the edge of the airfield. The aircraft and bus came to rest near the bomb dump and caught fire but all scrambled clear before the aircraft blew up and destroyed the bus. The bus driver sustained slight injuries. The pilot was taken off four engined aircraft following this incident though clearly was a very able pilot as will be seen below.
Halifax DT648 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was received by 12 MU on 26th November 1942. The date it was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Snaith is not recorded on the aircraft's AM Form 78. As a result of the incident on 1st March 1943 Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was written off.
Pilot - P/O William Allen Oliver Whitworth RAFVR (139572).
? - Sgt A G S Corrs.
Navigator - F/Lt Frederick Douglas Smith RCAF (J/5690).
Observer (Bomb Aimer?) - F/Sgt John Richards RAFVR (996588).
Wireless Operator - P/O Leslie Gordon McCoy RAFVR (136722).
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Wilfred Featherstone RCAF (R/70890).
Air Gunner - Sgt John Edward Pyall RAFVR (1335630).
Bus Driver - Name unknown.
This incident detailed above was his third incident of 1943 to date, he survived Halifax DT506 crashing at Pocklington airfield on 15th January 1943 and Halifax W1185 crashing at Burn airfield on 29th January 1943 (Whitworth, Corrs and Featherstone were with him in W1185).
He was later posted 427 Squadron and awarded the Bar to the DFC for serice with them, Gazetted on 21st September 1945, the citation for this award reads.."This officer has now completed his second tour of operational duty and through his exceptional qualities of leadership, has set a fine example to all who have come in contact with him. He has at all times shown a fine fighting spirit, skill and devotion to duty of a very high standard."
William Whitworth received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 6th December 1942. His rank is listed as being F/Sgt when the incident occurred but on paper he had already received a commission though it was not printed in the London Gazette until 23rd March 1943. He was later promoted to F/O on probation (emergency) on 6th June 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 6th December 1944. He was awarded the DFC for service with 571 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th October 1944. He remained in the RAFVR post-war and later relinquished his commission of F/Lt on 6th December 1949 on appointment to a commission in the R.Aux.A.F in the Secretarial Branch. He then transferred to the Reserve on 4th July 1954 and finally relinquished his commission on 6th December 1959.
Leslie McCoy received a commission on 22nd November 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). P/O McCoy was involved in a previous accident only two weeks before this one at Burn when Halifax DT506 crashed at Pocklington airfield. He was later promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 22nd May 1943 and was transferred to the Admin and Special Duties Branch on 28th November 1944. He should have been promoted to F/Lt around this date is his promotions followed the usual pattern of RAFVR promotions but no record of this has been found.
F/Sgt Robert Featherstone was made a PoW on the night of 11th/12th June 1943 while flying Ops to Dusseldorf in Halifax HR852. The aircraft was shot down by flak.
Sgt Richards was flying in Halifax DT738 on 3rd April 1943 when the aircraft crashed in Germany, he was twenty three years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Frederick Smith was born in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1916 and was living in British Columbia when he enlisted into the RCAF in September 1940. He was a survivor of the crash of 51 Squadron Whitley Z9274 on Ilkley Moor on 28th March 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 51 Squadron, Gazetted on 11th June 1943, the citation for his DFC, as sourced by Hugh Halliday, reads.."This officer has taken part in numerous sorties over enemy territory. Amongst his objectives have been, Essen, Munich, Cologne and Berlin. He also has completed many daylight anti-submarine sweeps. In spite of many trying experiences, his keenness and enthusiasm for operational flying remains undiminished and his navigation has always been of an exceptionally fine standard. On one occasion his aircraft was attacked by three Arados 196 and it escaped after a running fight in which one enemy aircraft was destroyed and one damaged. Flight Lieutenant Smith has done excellent work on operations and as a squadron navigation officer."