Halifax MZ526 near Eastrington.
On the night of 15th September 1944 this 76 Squadron aircraft was to have been used to fly an operational flight to bomb Kiel and took off from Holme on Spalding Moor airfield at 22.11hrs. After becoming airborne and climbing slightly the then gradually lost height, flew through tops of trees around four miles from the airfield and was then force landed in a field just over a mile north east of Eastrington at 22.13hrs. A fire broke out and unfortunately three members of the crew sustained severe burn injuries that would see two of these receive treatment at East Grinstead and become members of the Guinea Pig Club, while the other four were less seriously burned. The pilot later stated the felt aircraft had become increasingly nose heavy after leaving the ground. An investigation found that the crew had not raise undercarriage and had possibly selected the flap lever instead, both levers were next to each other in the cockpit.
Pilot - Sgt Herbert Dilley Throssell RAFVR (1576809).
Navigator - Sgt Phillip Ernest Bates RAFVR (1601413).
Air Bomber - F/O Ephrem Charles Louis-Philippe Catellier RCAF (J/29385). Treated at East Grinstead Hospital.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Peter Crisswell RAFVR (2215774).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Norman Leslie Ireland RAFVR (1851855). Treated at East Grinstead Hospital.
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Arthur Hamy RAFVR (1138118).
Air Gunner - F/Sgt Edward Pickles RAFVR (943755).
Edward Pickles may have been forced to leave the RAF owing to his injuries but then rejoined. While in the lower rank of LAC he died on 10th January 1947 and is buried at Flockton Congregational Chapelyard, Yorkshire.
This crew were posted into 76 Squadron on 20th August 1944. With all sustaining injuries to varying degrees the less seriously injured were posted to other squadrons. Sgt Hamy joined 158 Squadron and Sgt Bates joined 171 Squadron on 3rd October 1944.
Historians Eric Barton, Ken Reast and Albert Pritchard sought permission from the landowner and searched the surface of the field for fragments of the aircraft, they located a handful of pieces to confirm the location.