Halifax DT729 near Dunscroft.
On 3rd May 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft were flying a training flight when the aircraft suffered engine failure, believed to have been the starboard outer engine. The subsequent crash investigation thought that the pilot may have accidently shut down the starboard inner engine and while it could be flown on two engines when a turn to starboard was made this caused the starboard wing to drop and a crash resulted at 15.40hrs between Dunscroft and Barnby Dun and all on board were killed. Two locations for where this incident have been sourced, one gives Dunscroft while another suggests Botany Bay (between Barnby Dun and Kirk Sandall). The incident is mentioned in the Lindholme station record book which stated that it crashed at Armthorpe with nine people on board being killed, this number included two passengers. The complete and total destruction of the aircraft must have caused some confusion.
Halifax DT729 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was delivered new to 51 Squadron at Snaith on 9th January 1943. As a result of the crash on 3rd May 1943 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment. The aircraft was struck off charge on 9th May 1943 having clocked up just over 136 hours total flying time.
Pilot - Sgt William Greenhorn RAFVR (1345865), aged 30, of Fauldhouse, West Lothian. Buried Selby Cemetery, North Yorkshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Alfred George Shelton Corps RAFVR (1017680), aged 22, of Kirk Hammerton, North Yorkshire. Buried Kirk Hammerton Churchyard, North Yorkshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Joseph Salad RAFVR (1130523), aged 27, of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. Buried Selby Cemetery, North Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Norman Frederick Owen RAFVR (1269604), aged 21, of Muswell Hill. Buried St.Pancras Cemetery, Middlesex.
Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick James Lauder RAFVR (1331489), aged 22, of Hayes. Buried Hayes Churchyard, Middlesex.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Jack Allen Ventham RAFVR (1390418), aged 29, of Dulwich Village. Buried Camberwell New Cemetery, London.
Passenger - Cpl Gordon Victor Jones RAFVR (942633), aged 25, of Wallawey. Buried Wallasey Cemetery, Cheshire.
Two of the crew's graves in Selby Cemetery.
Of those listed above Sgts Lauder, Ventham, Owen and Greenhorn were posted to 51 Squadron on 14th March 1943 from 1658 HCU while Sgt Salad had arrived from the same training unit on 27th February 1943.
