On the morning of 10th January 1944 the crew of this 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit aircraft took off from Marston Moor airfield at 09.44hrs to undertake a training flight. A couple of minutes later the aircraft was seen to be flying inverted by an eye witness near Skelton, over the area to the north of York, it then crashed on to the bank of the River Ouse near what was then Fairfield Sanatorium with much of the wreckage falling into the water. Sadly all on board were killed in the crash. The cause of the accident was never understood. Both the 60 M.U. and Marston Moor record books states that only five bodies were recovered. Both pilots were initially not recovered but in the days and weeks that followed Sgt Annan's body was located. F/O Williams' body was never found and he is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
In more recent years illegal diving was carried out on the wreckage but those involved were caught by the police as the site is a war grave, a large quantity of ammunition that had been recovered was destroyed by the MoD.
Pilot (Instructor) - F/O John Hubert Williams DFC RAFVR (127132), aged 22, of Basingstoke, Hampshire. Commemorated Runnymede Memorial.
Pilot (Trainee) - Sgt Harry Barton Annan RAFVR (1507625), aged 21, of West Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Buried Hexham Cemetery, Northumberland.
Flight Engineer - P/O Alfred Leslie Langworthy DFM RAF (53279), aged 24, of Cheriton, Folkestone. Buried Cheriton Churchyard, Kent.
Flight Engineer - Sgt Walter Richard Windsor RAFVR (1590864), aged 26, wife of Melton, Yorkshire. Buried Donington Cemetery, Lincolnshire.
Navigator - F/Sgt Mazzine John Trenaman RAFVR (1390234), aged 33, of? Buried Crayford Churchyard, Kent.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Howard Alan Perriam RAAF (417513), aged 23, of Welland, South Australia. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (C/J/3).
Air Gunner - Sgt Roy George Emmitt Sandy RAFVR (1892480), aged 19, of Aldershot. Buried Aldershot Civil Cemetery, Hampshire.
Halifax HR664 was built to contract ACFT/1688/42 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was awaiting collection on 31st December 1942. It was taken on charge by 408 Squadron at Leeming on 4th January 1943. As a result of flak damage sustained on 28th March 1943 Cat.B/FB damage was the damage assessment that then saw it dismantled and transported to H.P. Ltd. at York Aircraft Repair Depot (Y.A.R.D.) for a repair in works. On 21st September 1943 the repair was complete and it was awaiting collection. On 25th September 1943 it was flown to 45 MU at Kinloss. On 6th November 1943 it was taken on charge by 78 Squadron at Breighton but on 12th November 1943 it was transferred to 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit at Marston Moor. On 10th January 1944 it crashed into the River Ouse, near what was then Fairfield Sanitorium, at few miles north of York. All eight on board were sadly killed and one member of the crew is unfortunately still regarded as missing. Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was the damage assessment recorded on the paperwork and it was struck off charge on 21st January 1944. It had clocked up 257 hours total flying time.
A memorial has been erected close to the crash site in recent years next to a water authority access road.
Harry Annan's and Howard Perriam's graves. Howard Perriam was born on 2nd April 1920 at Walland, South Australia and enlisted for RAAF service in Adelaide.
John Williams received a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 17th July 1942 and rose to F/O six months later. He was awarded the DFC for service with 77 Squadron, Gazetted on 13th August 1943. He was posted from 10 O.T.U. to 1652 H.C.U. on 15th November 1943. He survived a potentially serious incident three weeks before his death while flying Halifax BB240 on 12th December 1943, the aircraft suffered a burst tyre on take off from Marston Moor, he flew a circuit of the airfield and belly landed.
Alfred Langworthy was awarded the DFM for service with 10 Squadron, Gazetted on 15th June 1943. He was granted a commission to the rank of P/O on probation on 23rd September 1943. He was almost certainly an instructor at 1652 HCU at the time of his death.