On 22nd August 1943 at 22.42hrs Halifax EB195 had burst a tyre while taking off and stopped on the runway at Rufforth while undertaking a training flight with 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit. Ground controllers and the crew of another aircraft, Halifax DK125, were not initially aware of this and then began their take off run for a training flight, around the time the crew of EB195 then signalled that they were stopped on the runway. Ground controllers warned the crew of DK125 of the danger in the way of firing a red Verey flare but the crew of DK125 had already set off down the runway, they attempted to climb over the top of EB195 and began to raise the undercarriage but it struck EB195. The undercarriage of DK125 hit the tailplane of EB195 and then cut into the port wing. The crew of EB195 had attempted to run clear realising a collision and the flight engineer sustained injuries when he was hit by flying wreckage. The crew of DK125 then flew a couple of circuits of the airfield and then belly landed, but overshot off the end of the runway. Halifax EB195 was repaired but Halifax DK125 was deemed too badly damage to warrant a repair.
Pilot - F/Sgt Noel McPhail RAAF (413092). Injured.
Pilot - F/O William Maurice Carruthers RAFVR (133396).
Noel McPhail was awarded the DFM for service with 102 Squadron for his actions in returning a damaged Halifax to the UK on 3rd October 1943, his DFM notification was printed in the London Gazette on 2nd November 1943. As Acting F/Lt he was awarded the DFC for service with 102 Squadron, Gazetted on 19th May 1944. The citation was a joint one with two air gunners in his crew; P/O Victor Francis Milton Carr RAAF (422412) and P/O Colin George Robertson (418570) and reads "As pilot and air gunners respectively these officers have completed a large number of sorties, involving a wide range of targets. They have invariably displayed a high standard of skill, courage and devotion to duty, qualities which were well illustrated during a recent mine-laying mission. Before reaching the target the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire and sustained damage. Almost immediately the aircraft was intercepted by a fighter which attacked with much persistence. Flight Lieutenant McPhail manoeuvred with great skill, however, and Pilot Officers Carr and Robertson used their guns with great effect to drive off the attacker which is believed to have been shot down. These officers displayed great determination throughout."
William Carruthers was later posted to 78 Squadron. He was killed flying with them on 26th February 1944 when Halifax LV794 failed to return from Ops to Augsburg. Some of the crew baled out after it was attacked and set on fire by a night-fighter but it then exploded before other members were able to make good their escape. He is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. He received a commission to the rank of P/O on 10th November 1943 and rose to F/O on 10th May 1943. He was in the rank of Acting F/Lt when he died.
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