Halifax BB303 near Danby Wiske.

During the afternoon on 10th March 1944 this 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was flown on a training flight with the crew practicing shuting down an engine and flying on three engines. During the flight the starboard inner engine was correctly shut down and the propeller feathered. When it came to unfeathering and re-starting the pilot allowed the starboard wing to stall and drop which then resulting in the pilot loosing control. At 18.00hrs the aircraft then struck the ground between Danby Wiske and Streetlam and several members of the crew sustained serious injuries. It was later found that the crew had carried out this exercise much lower than above 3,000 feet that the orders stated. The aircraft was not carrying a navigator. Croft and Scorton airfields both sent fire tenders and ambulances while four fire engines attended from Northallerton NFS.

Pilot - P/O Joseph Yvon Jacques Cote RCAF (J/19722). Injured. To Croft SSQ.

Air Gunner - Sgt J P E Leduc RCAF (R/185320). Injured. To Northallerton Hospital.

Air Gunner - Sgt S H Lavoie RCAF (R/202480). Injured. To Northallerton Hospital.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt J L Asselin RCAF (R/96678). Injured. To Northallerton Hospital.

Flight Engineer - Sgt K E Jenkins RAFVR (1895288). Uninjured. To Croft SSQ.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Joseph Rene Marcel St.Germain RCAF (R/96959). Uninjured. To Croft SSQ.