Lancaster JB597 at Holme on Spalding Moor airfield.

On the night of 26th / 27th November 1943 the crew of this 630 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Berlin. They took off from East Kirkby airfield at 17.23hrs. On their return to Northern England thick fog was effecting flying and getting all the operational aircraft down safely was difficult. Many of the Lincolnshire-based squadrons diverted their aircraft north to Yorkshire to try and land and this aircraft was one that were detailed to try and land at Holme on Spalding Moor. At 02.30hrs and in poor visibility the Lancaster crashed in the undershoot area at Holme on Spalding Moor with the runways not being visible at all. All the crew appear to have escaped injury. The 1520 BAT Flight record book refers to a crash on this date that prevented them from flying during the day, Lancaster JB597 was probably that aircraft.

Pilot - F/Sgt Sidney Albert Edwards RAFVR (1392668).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Dennis Harvey Ryder RAF (643421).

Navigator - F/Sgt Robert Heap RAFVR (1477459).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Harold Grant RAFVR (1512532).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Howard Matthew Kent RAFVR (1575940).

Air Gunner - Sgt George John Hill RAFVR (1817129).

Air Gunner - Sgt Lawrence Diggle RAFVR (1454679).

By May 1944 all of the above had been posted to 97 Squadron. On 10th May 1944 all were flying in Lancaster ND813 on Ops to Lille when the aircraft crashed near the target area. Sgt Kent has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial while the other six are either buried in Hellemmes-Lille Communal Cemetery or Forest-sur-Marque Communal Cemetery, France.

Sidney Edwards received a commission on 28th November 1943 to the rank of P/O on probation.

Back to monthly table.