Halifax LK893 at Tholthorpe airfield.

Just before midnight on 30th August 1943 the crew of this 434 Squadron Halifax were awaiting take off at Tholthorpe airfield so the crew could carry out an air to sea firing exercise, LK893 had not moved since being marshalled there and when other Halifaxes began to move this remained put. It was struck from behind by Halifax EB254, another from 434 Squadron, which came to rest on top of the LK893 though only minor damage resulted. The propellers of EB254 struck the tail assembly of LK893. Somehow the rear gunner in LK893 escaped injury. The location of the incident is given in Tholthorpe's Flying Control log as being 130 yards from the main runway. LK893 had bombs on board which were removed safely. Both aircraft were slightly damaged but were soon repaired.

Pilot - Sgt Edward Harry Ells RCAF (R/124282).

Navigator - Sgt David Earl Watson RCAF (R/129766).

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Kenneth Ora Burns RCAF (R/132247).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Fred A Davis RCAF (R/99567).

Air Gunner - Sgt James Elgar Spears RCAF (R/146685).

Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Joseph Decorby RCAF (R/124460).

Flight Engineer - Sgt Jeffrey Charles Hinks RAFVR (1496520).

On the evening of 18th November 1943 this crew were flying this same aircraft on an operational flight to bomb Mannheim when the aircraft was badly damaged over Germany. All probably baled out and the six Canadian aircrew survived but all became PoWs but Sgt Hinks was killed. He was twenty three years old and is buried in Durnbach War Cemetery.

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