Lancaster ED835 near Hotham / North Cave.
On the night of 4th / 5th May 1943 101 Squadron supplied a number of aircraft and crews for a bombing raid on Dortmund, they lost six Lancasters on this night with twenty airmen either being killed or listed as missing. A number of the 101 Squadron aircraft crash landed in Yorkshire on the return to England. Lancaster ED835 was one of these aircraft, it took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 21.44hrs and was badly damaged by flak over enemy occupied Europe. On the return to Yorkshire bad weather, which included thick fog, had developed over the Holme on Spalding Moor area and this aircraft crashed between Hotham and North Cave at 03.42hrs. Three of the crew were sadly killed.
Lancaster ED835 was built to contract B.69274/40 by A.V.Roe and Co. Ltd. at Chadderton and was taken on charge by 101 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor on 7th April 1943. As a result of the crash on 5th May 1943 Cat.E2/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 22nd May 1943. It had logged 48 hours flying time from new.
Pilot - WO Gerald Hough RAFVR (1058798), aged 21, of Crosby, Liverpool. Buried Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Herbert Cecil Hooper RAF (574248), aged 20. Buried Ford Park Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/O Frederick William Gates DSO RAFVR (126623), aged 30, of Cheam, Surrey. Buried Sutton Cemetery, Surrey.
Navigator - F/O Stanley Nelson Beason RAFVR (116206). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Percy Albert Ratcliffe RAFVR (146641). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt W D G Merlin RCAF. Injured.
Air Gunner - P/O C L Outhouse RCAF. Injured.
Gerald Hough's grave in Holme on Spalding Moor Churchyard. He was promoted to Warrant Officer after his death and I credit his rank on this webpage as the one he is buried under.
Frederick Gates was granted a commission on 25th July 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation and would later rise to F/O (war subs) on 25th January 1943 (but notification was printed in the London Gazette in March 1943. He was awarded the DSO for his actions on the night of 14th / 15th February 1943, Gazetted on 23rd April 1943. The Citation was a joint one with other members of his then crew, it reads.. "On the night of 14th February 1943, Pilot Officer Gates, Flight Sergeant Dove and Sergeants Williams, Bain and Airey were members of the crew of an aircraft captained by Sergeant Hazard, which was detailed to attack Milan. Whilst over the target area, the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter from close range. Its gunfire exploded some incendiary bombs which had failed to release and a fire quickly developed in the bomber. The fuselage became a mass of flames reaching through the mid-upper turret manned by Flight Sergeant Dove. Ammunition in the turret boxes and ducts commenced to explode in all directions. In the face of an appalling situation, Flight Sergeant Dove coolly remained at his post. Although he was burned about the hands and face, he manned his guns with grim resolution, skill and accuracy. He delivered a devastating burst at the attacker, which had already been engaged and hit by the rear gunner and succeeded in destroying it. Disregarding the roaring flames, he then descended from his turret and went to the assistance of Sergeant Airey, the rear gunner, who had been wounded, and extricated him from the rear turret. The situation had become extremely critical and Sergeant Hazard ordered the crew to prepare to abandon aircraft. When informed that one of his comrades was helpless he decided, in spite of the grave risk entailed, to attempt a forced landing. Meanwhile, Pilot Officer Gates, assisted by Sergeants Williams and Bain bravely tackled the fire with extinguishers and succeeded in getting it under control. The aircraft was now down to 800 feet but, as the fire had subsided. Sergeant Hazard quickly decided to attempt to fly the badly damaged bomber home. He regained height and displaying fine airmanship crossed the Alps in safety, although one engine failed whilst so doing. On the remainder of the journey Pilot Officer Gates rendered valuable assistance to his captain and frequently ministered to his wounded comrade, Although this necessitated clambering over a hole in the floor of the aircraft in darkness. Aided by the skilful navigation of Sergeant Williams and good work by Sergeant Bain, the flight engineer, Sergeant Hazard succeeded in flying the seriously damaged aircraft back to this Country. In circumstances of the greatest danger, this aircraft crew displayed-courage, fortitude and devotion, to duty in keeping with with the highest traditions of the Royal Air Force." Hazard and Dove had originally been recommended for the Victoria Cross but this was reduced to CGM's by the head of the RAF. Hazard, Williams and Bain returned to flying soon after this incident and were air-testing Lancaster ED446 on 20th March 1943 when it crashed onto the beach at Hornsea, Yorkshire with this loss of all on board. George Dove was still being treated for his burns at the time as a member of the Guinea Pig Club. Frederick Gates appears to have either joined this crew listed above or was acting as a spare wireless operator when he was killed.
Percy Ratcliffe was born in Acton, London in 1914 and after attending school began working London Transport. When war broke out he was working in a reserve occupation so did not have to serve in the military but later voluunteered to serve in the RAF. He received his commission on 31st March 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He survived the crash of Lancaster ED835 but spent some months in hospital recovering. In July 1943 he married Cpl Doris Egan WAAF who was a parachute packer, his best man was a fellow airman, Sandy Greig (later DSO DFC) (who would later give birth to a boy Tony Greig, who would rise to become the England cricket captain). Percy Ratcliffe was later allowed back into the air, he was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 30th September 1943 and to F/Lt on 31st March 1945. He continued his service until the end of the War. Post-war he remained in the RAFVR until reliquishing his commission on 27th April 1959 but returned to his civilian job with London Transport. In the 1950s complications as a result of a spinal injury sustained in the Lancaster ED835 crash resulted in him being confined to a wheelchair. He was awarded the MBE for services to London Transport (while in the role of Senior Executive Assistant) and to charity in 1973, notification printed in the London Gazette on 2nd June 1973 in The Queen's Birthday Honours. He sadly died suddenly in 1974 in Ealing, London. I thank his daughter Anne for much of this information.
Stanley Beason received a commission on 13th March 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency), he rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and later to F/Lt (war subs) on 13th March 1944. Post war he remained in the RAFVR until 21st October 1956 when he relinquished his commission of F/Lt. He was probably born in Wandsworth, London in 1911 and died in Dorset in 2001.