Halifax NP713 at East Moor airfield.
On 7th August 1944 this 408 Squadron aircraft took off from Linton on Ouse at 20.51hrs for Ops to Caen but, as previously stated with the other incidents on this night, the bombing was scrubbed when the bombing force was over the target area. The actual target was to hit German troop and armour concentrations, but these were not far from the beaches of Normandy. Because of the close proximity to Allied troops the aircrews were briefed not to attack if they could not identify the target. As a result bombs were not dropped by the force and they returned home. This aircraft arrived at Linton and joined the circuit to go into land, the engineer lowered the undercarriage which came down correctly but green light in the cockpit (used in day-time landings) came on and blinded the pilot. Linton's tower was contacted by the crew and the aircraft was given the go ahead to extend their circuit into a dog-leg to allow them to cover the light. Shortly afterwards a peice of chewwed chewing-gum was placed over the bulb which worked and the Linton's tower gave them permission to land. They touched down and coasted down half its length but as the pilot applied the brakes nothing happened. He was not concerned as he knew that Linton had a clear overshoot area. What they did not realise was it was East Moor where they had landed and the overshoot area at the southern end of the N-S runway had a ditch at the end of it and two other Halifax's had already overshot minutes earlier. This aircraft ran off the runway, over Strensall lane, across the ditch and lost the undercarriage. It came to rest inbetween the other two aircraft at either 01.16hrs or 01.24hrs (sources vary) on the 8th August. The crew exited and only then found out where they had landed, the dog leg had taken them a few miles east of Linton and seeing the airfield below and having permission to land had similar gone in and landed. Later they returned to Linton and some days later the pilot was told by his commanding officer that the brakes on this Halifax were known to be playing up, his commanding officer had done a similar landing the day before but had used the grass to slow down one. Only years later the pilot discovered that neck pain caused by this incident was attributed to broken bones in his neck.
The photograph above shows all three aircraft as the day broke. Many years later the pilot would write a book "Bomber Pilot" drawn on his flying experiences and much of the above is taken from that account. The crew of this aircraft escaped serious injury, police reports give two as being slightly injured though their names are not recorded.
Halifax NP713 was built to contract ACFT/1688/C4/C by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and was delivered to 426 Squadron at Linton-on-Ouse on 11th July 1944. This appears to have been an error as 426 Squadron only operated Mk.III Halifaxes so the aircraft was immediately transferred to sister unit 408 Squadron which operated a mixture of B.III's and B.VII's. It sustained Cat.E/FB damage in the accident at East Moor on 8th August 1944. The aircraft was struck off charge on 16th August 1944.
Pilot - F/O Harlo Lloyd Jones RCAF (J/25886).
Flight Engineer - Sgt Wally T Wilkins RCAF (6187A).
Navigator - F/O Donald McKie Oldershaw RCAF (J/35238).
Bomb Aimer - WO2 Jean-Pierre B Brochu RCAF (R/164536).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Don M Howard RCAF (R/161716).
Air Gunner - Sgt R Harold Sharpe RCAF (R/168670).
Air Gunner - Sgt Ralph H Syer RCAF (R/200772).
After the War he returned to Canada and married in 1946 before earning a bachelor of arts at the University of British Columbia. He rejoined the RCAF in 1950 for a further twenty years. He wrote two books detailing his life, the second ""Bomber Pilot: A Canadian Youth's War" in 2001 he recounted his days as a bomber pilot in World War II. He died of a stroke on 1st October 2005 in Winnipeg.
Harlo Jones' book with his flight engineer Wally Wilkins photographed inside Halifax "EQ-R". The book is a great read and is available from time to time on Amazon for only a few pounds.
Harlo Jones was born on 29th December 1923 at Dinsmore, Saskatchewan and lived there until enlisting in Saskatoon on 10th April 1942. His father was a prominent businessman. His older brother P/O Dale Jones (42131) served in the RAF and was killed over Dunkirk on 28th May 1940 flying with 242 Squadron. Harlo was refused enlistment twice because of his small size but eventually succeeded and was Commissioned in 1943. Posted to 408 Squadron he was awarded the DFC with them, the Award effective from 10th May 1945. There was no citation other than.. "completed.. numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which [he has] invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty". The recommendation dated 1st January 1945 when he had flown thirty three operational flights (163 hours, 50 minutes) from 23rd June to 4th December 1944. This recommendation reads.. "Flying Officer Jones has completed a tour of operations against the enemy on four-engined bombers. He has operated deep into the heart of Germany on many occasions and has been over such heavily defended targets as Hamburg, Kiel, Brest, Duisburg and Essen. At all times he has pressed home his attacks and procured many fine photographs of the various targets.
He has been a source of inspiration to his crew members by his capability and guidance, which in turn have reflected on the squadron as a whole. Flying Officer Jones' courage and cheerfulness throughout his tour have been outstanding and I therefore recommend that he be awarded the Non-Immediate Distinguished Flying Cross."
Donald McKie Oldershaw lived in Chatham, Ontario prior to enlisting there on 27th May 1942. He was awarded the DFC for service with 408 Squadron, the Award effective from 10th May 1945 although he was not ever presented with it. It was eventually sent to him by registered mail on 28th June 1949. The citation reads..."Flying Officer Oldershaw has recently completed a most successful tour of operational duty attacking such heavily defended targets as Duisburg, Essen, Kiel and Hamburg. In August 1944, after bombing Kiel, despite the fact that this officer's navigation equipment has been rendered unserviceable, he successfully directed his aircraft safely back to base, having memorized the course. Throughout, Flying Officer Oldershaw has displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty. His outstanding skill and keenness for operations has set a fine example to all."
Ralph Syer enlisted 13th November 1942, in a Canadian press report from 1945 it stated that he survived three crash landings, one of which is clearly the incident recorded above but the other two are not yet known. The newspaper report states that both were down to damage sustained by enemy action but no dates were stated.