In the early hours of the 3rd September 1943 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was being flown on a night training flight. The aircraft landed at Topcliffe at 02.45hrs but with the wheels up in error, it was belly landed and skidded to a halt. The pilot was posted to 434 Squadron the day after this incident and his crew were probably the same with whom who he flew with there.
Pilot - Sgt Joseph Antoine Maurice Nadeau RCAF (R/55208).
Halifax W1240 was built to contract B.982938/39 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection 1st August 1942. It was taken on charge by 405 Squadron soon after but the date is not yet known. As a result of a collision on 11th October 1942 minor Cat.A(c)/FA damage was the result of the assessment and it was repaired on site at Topcliffe. On completion of repair the aircraft was transferred to 1659 H.C.U. at Leeming and it then moved back to Topcliffe with this unit on 14th March 1943. On 3rd September 1943 it was written off following this belly landing at Topcliffe, after which Cat.E/FA damage was the damage assessment.
Joseph Nadeau was born on 7th July 1912 at Black Lake, Quebec, Canada and was the son of Archelas and Rose-Anna (nee Giguere) Nadeau. As a young man he attended the McGill University where he studied science and had been working at a papermill when he initially enlisted for RCAF service. He initially tried to enlist on 5th December 1939 but was not successful so appears to have joined the Royal Rifles of Canada, he again enlisted for RCAF service on 11th May 1940 in Quebec as an air gunner but he then appears to have re-enlisted on 4th December 1941 and this time was successful in applying to train as a pilot. He trained as a pilot in Canada and was awarded his Wings on 6th November 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 14 (P)AFU and 23 OTU before posting to 1659 HCU on 11th August 1943. He was posted to 434 Squadron the day after this mishap at Topcliffe on 4th September 1943. He received a commission on 9th October 1943. He was killed flying with 434 Squadron on the night of 22nd / 23rd October 1943 when Halifax LK666 failed to return from Ops to Kassel. He is buried in Hanover War Cemetery.
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