Halifax JD208 near Lowthorpe, Driffield.
This 158 Squadron aircraft took off from Lissett airfield at 22.47hrs to bomb Essen on 25th July 1943. On the return to Yorkshire the aircraft stalled, entered a flat spin and crashed into the courtyard at Millingdale Farm at 02.50hrs. The wreckage caught fire and residents of the farm attempted to rescue the crew but were beaten back by the flames and sadly all the crew died. There was considerable damage done to the farm buildings but no civilian casualties. Damage to the walls of the farm building still shows today. I have yet to locate any details of any gallantry awards that may or may not have been awarded following this incident. The crew had just joined 158 Squadron from 1663 HCU four days before this accident and the flight was their first operational flight together. The flight engineer Sgt Roderick Dean was just seventeen years old and was one of the youngest airmen to be killed in Yorkshire during the Second World War.
Halifax JD208 was taken on charge by 158 Squadron on 2nd June 1943 and as a result of the crash near Driffield on 26th July 1943 Cat.E was the damage assessment. It was then struck of charge on 9th September 1943 (probably when the paperwork caught up).
Pilot - F/O Ronald William Buckland RAFVR (133113), aged 21. Cremated Golders Green, Middlesex.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Roderick John Charles Dean RAFVR (1605270), aged 17. Buried Frindsbury Churchyard, Kent.
Navigator - F/O Walter Roy Tidball RAFVR (132746), aged 22. Buried Witheridge Chapelyard, Devon.
Bomb Aimer - P/O Douglas Arthur Dyball RAFVR (139848), aged c22. Buried Harrow Weald Cemetery, Middlesex.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Harry Scott RAFVR (1346873), aged 21. Buried Inverurie Cemetery, Aberdeenshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Thomas Gates RAFVR (1483399), aged 20,. Buried Carnmoney Churchyard, Co.Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Air Gunner - Sgt George William Yare RAFVR (1049789), aged 21. Buried Seaham Cemetery, Co.Durham.
Roderick "John" Dean, photograph kindly supplied by his nephew Mr.M.Curness.
Douglas Dyball received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 2nd March 1943. Photograph also kindly supplied by Mr.M.Curness.
Walter Tidball was known by his middle name of Roy. Roy and his twin brother Frederick Leonard (known as Leonard) were the only children of Frederick and Evelyn Tidball. Roy received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 23rd October 1942 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 23rd April 1943. His twin brother Sgt Frederick Leonard Tidball RAFVR (1315672) was also killed in RAF service on 8th November 1942 with 10 Squadron in Halifax DT557, he was twenty one years old and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Leonard is shown on the left and Roy on the right.
Ronald Buckland received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) on 23rd October 1942 and was promoted to F/O (war subs) on 23rd April 1943.
