Halifax R9426 at Pocklington airfield.
On 2nd March 1943 the pilot of this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was undertaking an evening solo flying practice when, at 20.35hrs, the aircraft landed fast and heavily at Pocklington airfield, entered a swing which could not be corrected before the undercarriage collapsed. The pilot must have been working up to operational flying as he did not fly his first operational flight until the night of 8th / 9th March 1943 as a second "Dickie" pilot to a more experienced pilot and crew.
Pilot - Sgt Edward Wright Saywell RNZAF (NZ.415372).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Joseph Marsh RAFVR (1080667).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Frank William Whittaker RAFVR (1231515).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Ronald William Wisson RAFVR (1267837).
Air Gunner - Sgt Stuart Fred Hughes RAFVR (1021591).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frank Frederick Ward RAFVR (1321748).
Probable Navigator - Sgt Ernie Raymond Moore RAFVR (1379660).
Halifax R9426 was built to contract B.692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was first taken on charge by 102 Squadron at Dalton on 17th January 1942. It is listed as arriving at 102 Squadron in their orb on 15th February 1942. On 19th, 20th and 22nd February 1942 102 Conversion Flight specifically stated in their orb that none of their aircraft were servicable. While there is no reference to any loans of any aircraft from the parent squadron to the conversion flight I could be convinced that R9426 (and maybe R9423) was loaned across in late-February 1942 to help with the aircraft shortage and to train their aircrew. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that the transfer was made permenant on 20th March 1942. The 102 Squadron orb or the 102 C.F. orb then make no mention of the aircraft until it was loaned back to 102 Squadron on 1st June 1942 to be used on the Thousand Bomber raid and was coded "-W" (R9423, L9532 and V9987 being the other three of the 102 C.F. aircraft used that night). 102 C.F. then moved from Dalton to Topcliffe later in June 1942. It was again loaned to 102 Squadron for operations on 25th June 1942 but returned early because of a faulty engine. The aircraft is then listed in the 102 C.F. records individually on 17th July 1942 as being used on a test for feathering and unfeathering procedures and then during August 1942 it was given a major inspection. 102 C.F. moved to Pocklington 7th August 1942. On 23rd November 1942 it was absorbed into 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor but the part of the unit that was formerly at Pocklington remained there as "D-Flight". It would appear it never left Pocklington to go to the parent unit at Marston Moor. A repair on site was required on 18th January 1943 and it was returned to 1652 H.C.U. on 30th January 1943. As a result of the crash at Pocklington on 2nd March 1943 the damage was deemed serious not to warrant a repair and it was written off with Cat.E/FA damage being recorded on the paperwork. The aircraft was struck off charge on 12th March 1943.
Edward Saywell was born in October 1918 in Waimate Plains, New Zealand and was the son of Raymond and Margaret Saywell (nee Vickers). All of the above were later posted to 35 Squadron and all but Sgt Wisson were killed on 13th/14th July 1943 flying in Halifax HR819 on Ops to Aachen. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Sgt Wisson became a PoW.