On 16th December 1943 the crew of this 466 Squadron aircraft took off from Leconfield airfield at 12.10hrs to undertake an H2S-navigation cross country training flight. As the aircraft climbed away from Leconfield the starboard outer engine caught fire in the air and although the crew operated the fire extinguisher system but the fire then spread to the wing. In trying to avoid a collision with a farmhouse the pilot turned the aircraft and in doing so the aircraft flew into a wooded area at 12.15hrs near Watton Farm. After crashing the fire spread and the fire badly damaged the aircraft. After investigation it was found that the fire was fuelled by the faulty assembly of the fuel feed pipe to the carburettor, a nut had worked loose and allowed fuel to drip and then be ignited. It was also found that the fuel supply to the engine on fire was not switched off as would have been expected and which may also have prevented the damage being as severe.
Following the crash he family living at Decoy Farm had witnessed the crash and went to the scene to try and help. Mr William Scholey was later awarded the MBE for his actions and the citation for his award, printed in the London Gazette on 18th April 1944 adds a lot of detail. "When an aircraft crashed into a plantation and burst into flames Mr.Scholey hastened to the scene and found two members of the crew who were dazed and stumbling about. After he had guided them to safety, Mr.Scholey fearlessly approached the burning aircraft and, regardless of exploding ammunition and blazing petrol, he succeeded in extricating two airmen from the wreckage in which they were trapped. With assistance he dragged them clear of the flames. Mr.Scholey then returned to make a further search for survivors and found the rear gunner. With help he pulled him out of the turret and away from the fire but unfortunately the gunner was already dead. He then took the injured men into his house and did everything possible for them until the R.A.F. medical party arrived. In the course of his prompt and gallant action Mr.Scholey received severe burns."
Navigator - P/O Edward Henry Gribble RAAF (413577), aged 21, of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/F/16).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edward John Roynon RAFVR (1314292), aged 21, of Llanbradach, Glamorgan. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/F/17).
Rear Gunner - F/Sgt Charles William Angus RAFVR (1385016), aged 22, of Shotley Bridge. Buried Consett Cemetery, Durham.
Pilot - F/O Gerald Robert Bermingham RAAF (409072). Seriously injured.
Bomb Aimer - P/O John Ernest Evans RAAF (409527). Seriously injured.
Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt F C Brown RAFVR (1806212 / 1807212 ?). Injured.
Flight Engineer - Sgt G E Kent RAFVR (1231765 / 1231764 ?). Injured.
Navigator (H2S Instructor) - F/Lt William Maurice Brough Thompson DFC RAFVR (103540). Seriously injured.
The graves of the three airmen who sadly died as a result of this accident.
Edward Gribble was born on 6th November 1922 at Randwick, New South Wales, Australia and enlisted for RAAF service in Sydney.
Gerald Bermingham was born on 7th September 1915 in Sale, Victoria, Australia. He was working on the family farm when he enlisted for RAAF service in Melbourne on 19th July 1941. On arrival in the UK he trained at 11 (P)AFU and 27 OTU before posting to 466 Squadron on 5th July 1943 who were flying Wellingtons at the time, he later converted to fly the Halifax type at 1658 HCU. He received a commission on 23rd October 1943 and rose to F/O six months later. Following the crash at Watton he was admitted to teh Fulwood Hospital, Sheffield. His commission was later terminated on 16th July 1945 but he had already been repatriated well before that date.
John Evans was born on 10th April 19220 at Kew, Victoria, Australia and enlisted for RAAF service in Melbourne. Following the crash at Watton he was admitted to East Grinstead hospital for treatment to his burns and became one of the Guinea Pig patients.
William Thompson received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 13th July 1941 and rose to F/O then to F/Lt in yearly increments. He received the DFC, Gazetted on 7th November 1943, but the unit he received this for service with is not given in the London Gazette. Following the crash at Watton he was admitted to Fulwood Hospital, Sheffield.