Wellington HE743 near Croft airfield.
As this 427 Squadron aircraft was taking off from Croft airfield at 22.40hrs for a Bullseye training exercise on the evening of 6th April 1943 it swung out of control and crashed into an orchard at East Vince Moor Farm. Some or all of the crew managed to escape the burning wreckage and took cover in a ditch but the aircraft then exploded and two of the crew died while the other three sustained serious injuries. The farmhouse survived being destroyed had it not been for the trees which stopped the aircraft and spared the Pearson family who were the occupants at the time.
Wellington HE743 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was taken on charge by 427 Squadron at Croft on 19th March 1943. As a result of the crash on 6th April 1943 Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 15th April 1943 and had clocked up just twelve hours total flying time.
Pilot - Sgt Albert Charles Ash RCAF (R/118066), aged 21, of Barriere, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Darlington West Cemetery, Durham.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Keith Dodds RAFVR (1126307), aged 21, of West Hartlepool. Buried Stranton Cemetery, Hartlepool, Durham.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt George Wilson RCAF (R/111735). Burns to hands and face. Of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Observer - Sgtt Harry Douglas Anderson RCAF (R/22282). Burns to hands and face. Of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Air Gunner - (Possibly) Sgt John Joseph Kerr RCAF (R/139142). Burns to hands and face.
Albert Ash was born on 8th December 1921 at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of George Robert and Henrietta (nee Burley) Ash. His father died when he was young and his mother had remarried with him living with his mother and step-father in Barriere, British Columbia by 1940. He was working as a farm labourer when he enlisted into the RCAF on 12th July 1941 in Vancouver and undertook pilot training in Canada. He was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 9th October 1942. On arrival in the UK in November 1942 he trained at 19 (P)AFU and 22 OTU before posting to 427 Squadron on 25th March 1943.
George Wilson, Harry Anderson and John Kerr were first treated at the sick quarters at Croft airfield followed by further treatment at the Darlington Memorial Hospital. They were transferred to East Grinstead Hospital on 15th April 1943 and became three of the famous Guinea Pig patients.
