Halifax HR747 near Whitley Bridge.
On 26th May 1943 the crew of this 51 Squadron aircraft took off from Snaith at 00.01hrs for an operational flight to bomb Dusseldorf. On their return the starboard outer engine failed. As they were landing at Snaith the aircraft overshot, with the failed engine hampering them climbing they attempted to raise the undercarriage but hydraulic failure prevented this so the pilot tried to landed in a field. The aircraft landed alongside A19 road at 04.35hrs near Highfield Farm, Whitley Bridge but because the undercarriage was down the aircraft then skidded for some distance, hit two trees and came to rest in a ditch. The crew sustained slight injuries.
Pilot - Sgt Robert John Cribb RAFVR (1314662).
Flight Engineer - P/O Dennis John White RAFVR (145356).
Navigator - F/O William James Arthur Nicholson RAFVR (127315).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt G E Lloyd RAFVR (1387111).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Dennis Oscar Samuels RAFVR (1383042).
Air Gunner - Sgt Peter Erstine M Gosling RAFVR (1300797).
Air Gunner - Sgt Melvin Lawrence Hutchins RCAF (R/144839).
William Nicholson received a commission on 31st July 1942 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was later promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 31st January 1943 and to F/Lt on 31st July 1944 (war subs).
Dennis Samuels was probably born in London in 1922. His wartime service is not know but well after the war he was appointed to a commission in the Training Branch of the RAFVR as P/O on 11th February 1961. He was later promoted to F/O on 11th February 1963. He relinquished his commission of F/O (retaining the rank of F/Lt) on 11th February 1977. He died in Hertfordshire in 1994.
Peter Gosling was born in London in 1921 and died in Rugby, Warwickshire in 1978.
Dennis White received a commission on 7th February 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O on probation (war subs) on 7th August 1943 and F/Lt (war subs) on 7th February 1945.
Robert Cribb received a commission on 10th July 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 10th January 1944 and F/Lt (war subs) on 10th July 1945. Post-war he relinquished his commission in the RAFVR on appointment to the Army on 1st August 1951. Until it can be proven otherwise I am linking him to being a serving Chaplain in the Army from 1st August 1951 in the Royal Army Chaplains' Dept (service no.417567). The Rev. Robert John Cribb, Deputy Chaplain-General to the Forces was appointed Honorary Chaplain to The Queen on 12th March 1971 and a position he held until retiring on 1st August 1975.
Halifax HR747 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was flown to 8 M.U. at Little Rissington on 11th March 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 51 Squadron at Snaith on 28th April 1943. As a result of the damage sustained near Snaith on 26th May 1943 Cat.B/FB damage was the initial damage assessment and it was probably dismantled on site with a view to repairing it in a works factory. On 12th June 1943 the aircraft was deemed unworthy of repair so was re-assessed as Re.Cat.E and was struck off charge having clocked up a total of 43 hours flying time.
Melvin Hutchins was born on 24th September 1922. He was flying on board Halifax DT568 on the night of 12th / 13th June 1943 on Ops to Bochum, the aircraft was shot down by a night-fighter over Holland and all but his then pilot were killed. He is buried in Weerselo Roman Catholic Cemetery, Holland and was twenty years old.
The first six named above were flying 51 Squadron Halifax HR936 on 23rd / 24th August 1943 on Ops to Berlin, the aircraft suffered from a flying control failure and all on board baled out over Holland. All were captured and saw out the war as PoWs. Sgt Lloyd managed to evade capture for three months before being captured but his full identity is not yet known.