Halifax EB254 at Tholthorpe airfield.

Just before midnight on 30th August 1943 the crew of this 434 Squadron Halifax were awaiting take off at Tholthorpe airfield so the crew could carry out an air to sea firing exercise. Halifax LK893 was ahead of EB254 and had not moved since being marshalled there earlier. When movement of the aircraft begun the pilot of EB254 applied power to the engines but the brakes failed to hold the aircraft. It rolled forward and struck Halifax LK893, the propellers of EB254 struck the tail of LK893. Somehow the rear gunner in LK893 escaped injury. Both aircraft were slightly damaged but were soon repaired. The location of the incident is given in Tholthorpe's Flying Control log as being 130 yards from the main runway. Both aircraft had bombs on board, the ones on LK893 were removed safely soon after but because EB254 was sat on top, the bomb doors could not be easily opened so removal was more difficult.

Pilot - Sgt Jack McLean Snelgrove RCAF (R/114518).

Navigator - F/O David Ellis Smith RCAF (J/14195).

Bomb Aimer - P/O William A Hunt RCAF (J/20165).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Francis Lane RAFVR (976217).

Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Holmes RAFVR (1147342).

Air Gunner - Sgt Larry A Hoffman RCAF (R/113243).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Stanley Allenby Mitton RAF (537513).

Jack Snelgrove was born in August 1919. Later in 1943 he received a commission and after completing a Tour with 434 Squadron was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 14th November 1944. He moved the USA in 1963 and obtained US citizenship in 1981 died in April 2010.
David Smith also completed a tour with 434 Squadron and was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 17th October 1944. Post war he and his brother formed the EllisDon construction company
Stanley Mitton was born on 15th July 1918 in Manchester and was the son of Thomas and Louise Mitton. He would received a commission in the RAF to the rank of P/O on probation on 18th December 1943 (54000) and rose to F/O (War Subs) on 18th June 1944. After Ww2 he married Eileen Toussaint in London in 1947 and was living in Frinton on Sea, Essex when he emigrated to Brasil in 1949 but he must have later returned to the UK. He worked for the BOAC during the 1950s as he made numerous flights across the Atlantic. He died in Manchester in 1988.
Everyone else would receive a commission and survive the war.

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