Halifax R9455 near Selby.
On 3rd February 1943 the crew of this 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft were undertaking a basic circuit training flight which involved practicing taking off, flying a circuit of the airfield to land at the alternate end of the runway and then take off again. During the exercise the aircraft's starboard outer engine began to overheat so the propeller was feathered. The crew went to make a three engined landing at Riccall airfield but initially the wheels did not lower. The pilot flew an overshoot of the airfield and then the wheels dropped down. The aircraft would not then maintain height so the pilot attempted to restart the fourth engine but as the height was just 100 feet above the ground, at 15.00hrs, the aircraft was force landed on flooded land just north of Selby in an area known as "The Holmes". Unfortunately the field selected was covered in flood water from the River Ouse and while the undercarriage was still lowered the aircraft was badly damaged. A mistake confusing the undercarriage lever with the flap lever caused the aircraft to loose height. All but the two listed as injured below were soon posted to 77 Squadron though some would then be re-posted to 76 Squadron.
Pilot - Sgt John Godfrey Creswell RAFVR (1214341).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Francis Roycroft Berkley RAFVR (1436315). Injured.
Navigator - Sgt Francis Reginald Burcher RAFVR (1315855). Seriously injured.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Wilfred Reginald Beadsmoore RAFVR (1380112). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Robert Herbert Hammett RCAF (R/90401)
Navigator - Sgt Ernest Cassingham RAFVR (1335447).
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Jack Kay RAFVR (1079407).
Air Gunner - Sgt Frederick Henry Walton RAF (651948).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Richard George Henry Sees RAF (577651).
Halifax R9455 was built to contract 692649/37 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett and was delivered directly to 76 Squadron at Middleton St.George soon after completion on 16th February 1942. It was first used operationally on 30th March 1942. The aircraft was damaged to a repairable Cat.Ac/FA state on 5th April 1942 but no details of how this occurred are yet known. This may have been at Tain. It was returned to 76 Squadron on 14th April 1942 and was used operationally on 8th May 1942. It was transferred to 78 Squadron at Middleton St.George on 24th June 1942 and used operationally the following day. It was used by 78 Squadron operationally until 19th September 1942 when the intercom failed and the rear turret lighting failed just after take off, the crew flew out to sea and jettisoned the bomb load before returning to base. It appears to have been one of a few aircraft initially loaned to 78 Conversion Flight. The permanent transfer date given on the AM Form 78 is 25th September 1942. On 7th October 1942 78 Squadron Conversion Flight was absorbed into 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit at Riccall. As a result of the crash near Selby on 3rd February 1943 Cat.E/FA damage was the assessment and it was struck off charge on 25th February 1943.
John Creswell received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 1st May 1945 (197629) and was promoted to F/O on 1st November 1945.
Sgt Francis Berkley was later posted to 158 Squadron. On 17th April 1943 he was flying in Halifax HR779 on Ops to Mannheim when the aircraft was shot down by night-fighters. He was made a PoW.
Sgt Beadsmoore was later posted to 77 Squadron. On 27th April 1943 he was flying in Halifax JB783 which was damaged by flak on Ops, his pilot (F/Sgt O'Grady) was able to bring the aircraft safely back to base. On 28th May 1943 he was flying in Halifax JD152 (again with F/Sgt O'Grady) when the aircraft was shot down over Germany. He was thirty three years old and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His surname may have correctly spelt as "Beadsmore".
Navigator, Sgt Ernest Cassingham RAFVR (1335447) was serving with 35 Squadron PFF on 12th June 1943 and flying in Halifax JB785 when it was shot down over Holland, he was 22 years old and is buried in Rotterdam General Cemetery.
Sgt Walton was killed on 3rd July 1943 when 76 Squadron Halifax HR734 crashed in Belgium. He is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery.
Robert Hammett was made a PoW on 23rd June 1943 when 76 Squadron Halifax DK224 crashed near Utrecht.
Jack Kay was killed on 17th April 1943 when 76 Squadron Halifax DK165 crashed in Germany, he is buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.
Sgt Sees was killed on 27th April 1943 when 51 Squadron Halifax HR787 crashed in Germany, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.