Halifax DK268 near Marton le Moor.

During the morning of 30th March 1944 this 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft was intended to be flown on a training flight that would involve both and air to air firing exercise and also a practing bombing exercise. The aircraft took off from Dishforth just before 10.00hrs but not that long after taking off the port outer engine began to run rough so opted to return to base. Fifty minutes after taking off the aircraft was making an approach to land at Dishforth but the port outer engine then failed. This caused the aircraft to swing off the approach line. The undercarriage and flaps were down but the pilot deemed that the approach at 10.43hrs was not correct so flew an overshoot. Unfortunately the aircraft failed to maintain height and it struck a first tree around half a mile west of the airfield which tore off the port rudder. It then struck a second tree which saw the tail and rear fuselage torn off. It then crashed into a field near Marton le Moor and the port wing was torn off. A fire broke out and the aircraft was badly damaged. Unfortunately all members of the crew sustained injuries with the first four named requiring treatment at the Friarage Hospital at Northallerton. The other three were taken to station sick quarters at Dishforth.

Pilot - F/O Willard Whitfield MacKeracher RCAF (J/25923). Injured.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt J J Woodstock RCAF (R/165118). Injured.

Rear Gunner - Sgt F J MacLeod RCAF (R/198581). Injured.

Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Sharrock RAFVR (2210141). Injured.

Mid Upper Gunner - Sgt E F Graham RCAF (R/96107). Injured.

Bomb Aimer - P/O Lloyd Salter Cruikshank RCAF (J/28265). Injured.

Navigator - Sgt J D Reid RCAF (R/117552). Injured.