Halifax JB788 near Drub, Cleckheaton.
During the afternoon of 27th December 1943 this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Marston Moor airfield so the crew could undertake a fighter affiliation exercise. Just before the Halifax met with the fighters a port inner propeller blade broke off from the port inner engine. The pilot instructed the crew to bale out prior to then baling out himself, as he was about to leave the aircraft he looked below and realised that he was currently over the built up area of Leeds and Bradford so stayed at the controls to attempt a forced landing. He attempted to put the aircraft down in fields near Drub, Cleckheaton at 16.15hrs but as he came in for the landing the aircraft crossed the A58 Whitehall Road. Along side this road was a line of telephone wires and a wall. The aircraft flew through the wires and the wall which saw part of the tail or the rear turret break away. The aircraft continued through trees that line the road and then it crashed into a field beyond. It came to rest several hundred metres further on. The wreckage caught fire and was destroyed. The pilot was slightly injured but survived, he received a commendation from the Commanding Officer of 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit for his excellent presence of mind and cool captaincy.
Since creating this webpage I have seen two superb short films about the incident by Darren at AdventureMe on Youtube in which he retraces what happened. A small memorial has also been erected in Drub village.
Pilot - F/Sgt Thomas Ernest Scotland RAAF (415360).
Flight Engineer - Sgt R L Lewis RAFVR (1566176).
Navigator - Sgt Derek Hopper RAFVR (1553449).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Edgar Riley RAFVR (1538875).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Wesley Joseph Weekes RAAF (425390).
Air Gunner - Sgt K Smith RAFVR (1561599).
Air Gunner - Sgt W Butler.
Thomas Scotland was awarded the DFC for service with 614 Squadron in June 1945, he died in 2012.
All but Sgt Butler were posted to 614 Squadron in March 1944 and flew a Tour with them.
Halifax JB788 was built to contract ACFT/1808/C4 by English Electric Co. Ltd. at Samlesbury and was flown to 18 MU at Dumfries as new on 27th February 1943. The aircraft was taken on charge by 77 Squadron at Elvington on 4th May 1943. It sustained Cat.A/FB damage assessments following minor flak damage incidents on 14th May 1943, 26th May 1943, 28th May 1943 and 10th July 1943. After each incident a repair on site was carried out. On 30th September 1943 the aircraft was transferred to 466 Squadron at Leconfield and on 17th November 1943 it was transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 29th December 1943 it crash landed off Drub Lane, Cleckheaton following a propeller detachment on a training flight. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 10th January 1944 having clocked up some 296 flying hours from new.