Wellington Z1692 at Topcliffe airfield.
On the evening of 6th February 1943 the crew of this 424 Squadron aircraft were tasked with a mine laying operational flight, they took off at 17.22hrs and reported thick cloud over the dropping point but released their mines and made for home. On their approach to land at Topcliffe the generator failed. On landing at Topcliffe at 22.02hrs the unit ORB recorded that the aircraft sustained damage to both propellers and the nose of the aircraft which would suggest that it ran into something or tipped up onto its nose.
Pilot - P/O Robert George Caldwell RCAF (J/16785), of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada.
Navigator - F/O Gordon Johnson Cory RCAF (J/11240), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt William Frederick Topping RCAF (R/103759), of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Alfred Perry Larson RCAF (R/102165), of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Air Gunner - Sgt Leslie Alfred Parker RCAF (R/92418), of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
Air Gunner - Sgt Lawrence Arkwright Ferguson RCAF (R/102082), of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Robert Caldwell was born on 19th October 1920 in Port Arthur, Ontario and was the son of D'Encourt(?) and Christina (Morrow?) Caldwell. He was working as a teacher when he enlisted for RCAF service in Fort William, Ontario on 17th July 1941. After training in Canada he was awarded his Pilot's Wings on 27th March 1942. He arrived in the UK soon after and trained at 11 (P)AFU and 22 OTU before posting to 424 Squadron on 17th October 1942. He received a commission on 4th January 1943.
Gordon Cory was born on 31st August 1922 in Medicine Hat, Alberta and was the son of Wilbur Albert and Gladdis Grace (nee Johnson) Cory. His mother later died and his father re-married.
He was working as a druggist's apprentice in Vancouver after leaving school. He enlisted for RCAF service on 9th May 1941 and after training in Canada was awarded his Observer's Badge on 14th March 1942 and then received a commission on 13th April 1942. On arrival in the UK he trained at 10 (O)AFU and 22 OTU before posting to 424 Squadron on 17th October 1942.
Wellington Z1692 was built to contract B.97887/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden. It was received by 18 MU on 1st May 1942 and was then placed in long term MU storage. It was taken on charge by 466 Squadron at Driffield on 29th October 1942 just after the unit had formed. It was transferred to 424 Squadron at Topcliffe on 30th December 1942 not long after 424 Squadron exchanged their Mk.III for Mk.X aircraft. As a result of the minor damage sustained on 6th February 1943 Cat.A(c)/FB damage was the damage assessment and it was repaired on site with it returned to 424 Squadron on 27th March 1943. In April 1943 424 Squadron ceased operating Mk.III Wellingtons so the aircraft passed in to the hands of 26 O.T.U. at Wing on 30th April 1943. It later transferred to 16 O.T.U. at Upper Heyford oin 2nd May 1943 before returning to 26 O.T.U. at Wing on 4th March 1944. It continued to serve with 26 O.T.U. transfer to 86 OTU on 28th October 1944. It was then flown to 8 MU on 10th November 1944 and was taken to a works factory for a major service on 14th March 1945. In July 1945 it passed to 18 MU and was placed in MU store pending disposal. It was then struck off charge on 31st May 1947.
The first five named above were flying together in Wellington BK348 on 12th / 13th March 1943 for Ops to Essen when the aircraft crashed in Holland with the loss of the whole crew. They are now buried in Uden War Cemetery.
Lawrence Ferguson was born on 22nd August 1922 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada and was the son of Joseph Roy and Flossie (nee Arkwright) Ferguson. His father was a teacher but also served in the RCAF during WW2 in Canada probably at a deskjob in Regina (possibly as a recruitment clerk). Lawrence enlisted for RCAF service in Regina on 1st May 1941. After basic training in Canada Lawrence was posted to the UK in August 1942 and trained at 7 AGS and 22 OTU before posting to 424 Squadron on 30th January 1943. He was part of the 424 Squadron contingent that was posted to North Africa later in 1943. On 29th June 1943 he was recorded as missing flying with them and is commemorated on the Malta Memorial. He initially trained as a pilot but remustered to be an air gunner mid way through his pilot training on his own request.