During the afternoon of the 8th November 1944 the crew of a 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax DK149 took off from Rufforth to undertake a training flight. The flight would include a fighter affiliation excerise involving Hurricane HW684 (of 1689 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight) which would make mock attacks on the bomber. The Hurricane took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield and met up with the Halifax in the general area to the north of Holme on Spalding Moor airfield. During the exercise the Hurricane collided with the Halifax at 15.29hrs causing the Halifax to immediately go out of control. Unfortunately none of the crew of the Halifax was able to get clear of the aircraft before it crashed into a field near Warrendale Plantation, near the village of Londesborough, and all were killed. The Hurricane became uncontrollable but it's pilot was able to successfully bale out and he landed safely. I have no information to suggest the location of where the Hurricane subsequently crashed; it may have been in the general Londesborough area or much nearer its base if it was able to be flown away to some extent.
Pilot - F/Sgt J Etchells RAFVR (1437161).
Etchells was posted into 1689 Flight from No.3 T.E.U. on 26th April 1944 and was posted back there on 19th December 1944.
Hurricane HW684 was built to contract 62305/39 by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. at either the Brooklands or Langley factory. It was initially flown to 20 MU at Aston Down on 2nd November 1942 and on 26th January 1943 it was taken on charge by 184 Squadron at Colerne. 184 Squadron moved around to various airfields over the next few months and this aircraft would have gone with them. On 3rd February 1943 they moved to Milfield, on 22nd February 1943 to Colerne, on 1st March 1943 to Chilbolton on 11th March 1943 to Grove and on 12th March 1943 to Zeals. On 6th April 1943 it went to 5 MU at Kemble. On 19th August 1943 it was taken on charge by the A.F.D.U. at Wittering. A detachment to Leconfield begun on 21st July 1943 and on 11th January 1943 Cat.Ac/FA damage resulted following a mishap at Leconfield. It was repaired and returned to the unit. On 4th March 1944 it was transferred to No.1689 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight at Holme on Spalding Moor. On 8th November 1944 it collided in mid-air with Halifax DK149 of 1663 H.C.U. during a training exercise over Londesborough, it crashed nearby after the pilot baled out. The aircraft was destroyed, Cat.E2/FA damage was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 9th November 1944.
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