Halifax R9420 near Linton on Ouse.
On 25th July 1943 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Topcliffe at 09.45hrs to begin a training flight with the named crew listed below and also with a flying instructor. The first part of the training exercise lasted for thirty minutes and involved the instructor supervising the trainee pilot in making a series three engine landings. With this part of the exercise complete the instructor left the aircraft after the final three engined landing. The crew then took off again to carry out an air to sea firing exercise over the North Sea, in an area off Whitby, between mid-day and 13.00hrs. With this final part of the exercse complete the aircraft began to return to base with a route involving using York as a turning point. The aircraft was seen by people on the ground at Linton on Ouse to be flying at around 2,000 feet with all engines running and flying normally, it was then seen to go into a spin, which became a steep dive and there was not enough height to recover from the dive before it struck the ground around a mile from the airfield, near Linton Woods, at 13.45hrs. All on board were sadly killed.
Pilot - F/O William John Russell Green RCAF (J/20077), aged 22, of Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Flight Engineer - Sgt George William Stevenson RAFVR (1380989), aged 25, of Streatham, London. Buried Beath Cemetery, Fife.
Navigator - F/Sgt William Bernard Wheeler RCAF (R/128074), aged 21, of Pickering, Ontario, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt Walter Bruce Kaiser RCAF (R/101947), aged 25, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt James Peter Hardy Ingle RAFVR (1435162), aged 21, of Skipton. Buried Waltonwrays Cemetery, Skipton, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - P/O Samuel Thomas Snead RCAF (J/26839), aged 31, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - P/O William Dunne Coldicott McKercher RCAF (J/24801), aged 21, of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Dishforth Cemetery, Yorkshire.
William Green was born on 10th October 1920 in Havelock, Ontario, Canada and was the son of Russell Ernest and Jean Inene (nee White) Green. He was still at college when he enlisted for RCAF service but had worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway and working as a clerk in a drugstore before returning to his studies. He enlisted on 9th October 1941 in Toronto and trained as a pilot, receiving his Wings on 23rd October 1942 and received a commission on the same date. He arrived in the UK before the end of the year and was posted to 11 (P)AFU, 1211 BAT Flight and 22 OTU to continue training. He arrived at 1659 HCU probably a week before his death as he had only flown just short of nine hours on the Halifax when he died, William McKercher arrived at 1659 HCU on 12th July 1943 and this was probably when all this crew arrived there.
William McKercher was born on 11th November 1921 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was the son of John Alexander and Doreen (nee Coldicott) McKercher. As a young man he was working repairing saws prior to enlisting for RCAF service in Vancouver on 11th June 1942. He trained as an air gunner and receiving his Air Gunner's Badge on 19th March 1943 receiving a commission on the same date. On arrival in the UK in April 1943 he was posted to 22 OTU in early May 1943 and was then posted to 1659 HCU on 12th July 1943.
William Wheeler was born on 22nf February 1922 at Belleville, Ontario, Canada and was the son of William and Dorris May (nee Miles) Wheeler. As a young man he worked as an Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman in Saskatoon. He enlisted for RCAF service in Saskatoon on 28th August 1941 for aircrew duties and after training he was awarded his air navigator's flying badge on 28th August 1942. He was posted to the UK later in 1942. Prior to posting to 1659 HCU on 12th July 1943 he trained at 4 AOS and 22 OTU.
Walter Kaiser was born on 18th October 1917 at Togo, Saskatchewan, Canada and was the son of Walter Ross and Katherine (nee Bruce) Kaiser. As a young man he worked as an office clerk for the Manitoba Farm Loans Association. He enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg on 8th May 1941 and after training in Canada he was awarded his air bomber's flying badge on 23rd October 1942. He married Hazel Reid in Winnipeg on 24th October 1942. He was posted to the UK the following month and after training at 6 AOS and 22 OTU he was posted to 1659 HCU on 12th July 1943.
Samuel Snead was born on 3rd March 1912 in London, England and was the son of Thomas and Sarah (nee Lucas) Snead. The family emigrated to Canada when he was around three months old to Saskatchewan but later moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a young man he worked as a travelling salesman for a paper products company. He also enlisted into the Auxillary RCAF way back on 3rd October 1935 in Winnipeg and served as an aero engine fitter with No.12 (Army Co-Operation) Squadron but was discharged on 15th December 1936. On 14th July 1942 he re-enlisted for regular RCAF service in Winnipeg. After training he was awarded his air gunner's flying badge and also a commission on 28th May 1943. He was then immediately posted to the UK and following training at 22 OTU he was posted to 1659 HCU on 6th July 1943.
The gravestones of the other members of the crew killed in this accident, Sgt Stevenson's in Beath (posted to the internet by "Scott") and Sgt Ingle's at Skipton (photo by me).
Halifax R9420 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was taken on charge as new by 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George on 25th January 1942 where it carried the squadron code "MP-G". On 27th February 1942 the aircraft was transferred to 78 Squadron at Croft and then to 405 Conversion Flight at Pocklington on 23rd April 1942. 405 C.F. moved from Pocklington to Topcliffe on 7th August 1942 and on 7th October 1942 it became part of 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Leeming but the official transfer of the aircraft took place on paper on 21st December 1942. On 14th March 1943 1659 H.C.U. moved to Topcliffe. The tail wheel collapsed there on 23rd May 1943 and Cat.Ac/FA damage was the damage assessment. The aircraft was repaired on site and returned to 1659 H.C.U. charge on 9th June 1943. On 25th July 1943 the aircraft crashed near Linton Woods, near Linton on Ouse with the loss of the whole crew flying it. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was struck off charge.
