Lancaster ED552 near South Cliffe.
On 29th March 1943 the crew of this 101 Squadron aircraft were just setting out from base at Holme on Spalding Moor to carry out a night training flight when the aircraft hit trees in the area west of South Cliffe. The aircraft crashed soon after at 03.31hrs and all on board were sadly killed. It was later thought that a mix up with flap lever and bomb door lever caused the aircraft to sink after taking off which resulted in it being so low to clip trees. The aircraft carried the nose art "Gremlin Queen". The rear gunner survived this accident which seems remarkable given what must have been the complete destruction at the crash site.
Lancaster ED552 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe and Co. Ltd. at Chadderton. It was taken on charge by 101 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor on 30th January 1943. As a result of the crash at South Cave on 29th March 1943 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was written off. The aircraft was then struck off charge on 8th April 1943 having clocked up a total of 113.15 flying hours.
Pilot - P/O Wallace Thomas Hobday RAFVR (126646), aged 22, of Yardley, Birmingham. Buried Yardley Cemetery, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Leslie Maydew RAFVR (1500660), aged 22, of Leekbrook, Staffordshire. Buried Wetley Rocks Churchyard, Staffordshire.
Navigator - F/O Laurence Waite RAFVR (125423), aged 29, of Leeds. Buried Far Headingley Churchyard, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Bernard Stanley Ransom RAFVR (1322952), aged 20, of Gosport. Buried Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport, Hampshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald Waterhouse RAFVR (1079709), aged 22, of New Mills, Derbyshire. Buried New Mills Churchyard, Derbyshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas James Knock RAFVR (1383477), aged 21, of Minories, London. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Possible Rear Gunner? - Name unknown. Escaped with injuries (Unlikely?).
Lawrence Waite received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 7th August 1942. There is no mention in the London Gazette of him getting a promotion to F/O but he almost certainly had as at this time in the War six months service after receiving a commission usually resulted in a promoted to F/O (war subs).
Leslie Maydew was the son of William and Annie Edith Maydew he worked at the Joshua Wardle mill in Leekbrook before enlisting into the RAFVR. His name was one of two not originally included on the war memorial at Leekbrook but a new plaque was placed next to the existing memorial on the Leek to Cheddleton Road at Leekbrook, in June 2009. The Leekbrook War Memorial was originally built by Joshua Wardle in honour of their fallen former employees in WW1. The photograph of him shown above was found on the internet on a newspaper report surrounding the memorial plaque dedication.
Sgt Knock's grave at Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard.
Wallace Hobday received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 17th July 1942 and on 17th January 1943 he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs).
