Halifax DT676 at Leeming airfield.
During the night of 25th / 26th February 1943 this 408 Squadron aircraft was being flown on an operational flight to lay mines in the Nectarine area, the crew took off from Leeming airfield at 21.22hrs. They released their mines and returned to base but on landing at Leeming at 01.07hrs the aircraft's starboard undercarriage leg collapsed causing the aircraft to ground loop.
Pilot - P/O Daniel Frederick Allen RCAF (J/16423).
Navigator - P/O Ronald Claud Moyer RCAF (J/16247).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt John Henry McNess RAFVR (1391023).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt William Ralph Shellington RCAF (R/84134).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Glendon Roland Scott RCAF.
Air Gunner - Sgt William Conley RCAF.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert William Duncanson RAFVR (972332).
Everyone else survived the war and were awarded DFCs.
Glendon Scott was serving with 408 Squadron way back in July 1942 when they were flying Hampdens. He later served with 434 Squadron in 1944.
Halifax DT676 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming on 8th December 1942. It was used by then on their first Halifax operational order on 9th January 1943. As a result of damage sustained on 26th February 1943 minor Cat.Ac/FB damage was the assessment. The aircraft was repaired on site at Leeming by a team from Handley Page and returned to 408 Squadron on 1st April 1943. It was transferred to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe on 8th June 1943. On 7th July 1943 it crashed at Dalton airfield and Cat.E/FA damage resulted. It was struck off charge on 26th July 1943.
John McNess received a commission on 25th June 1943 (to the rank of P/O on probation) and on that night, the 25th / 26th June 1943 he was killed flying in Halifax JB858 on Ops to bomb Gelsenkirchen. He was thirty three years old and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.