Halifax Crash – I Think

isn’t it nice to receive a thank you for ones efforts. 🙂

Nice to see the MUs over stated things, it is less than a mile from the road up through a field and out onto the open moor.

The aircraft suffered structural failure followed by a high speed dive into the ground.

The accident is well documented, as is the crash of DT578 a couple of hours later.

I am looking for some details about a Halifax crash that happened between 23rd November 1943 and 24th November 1943 in Yorkshire. Somewhere around Selby I think. Does anyone have any information about this?

I am trying to trace some details about one of the crew members.

I don’t have any details except the name of the crew member who was Sgt James Titterington.

Ali

From Bomber Command Losses Vol 8. Heavy Conversion Units WR Chorley.

23 November 1943
1658 HCU.
Halifax II JB926 ZB-A
Training

Aircraft took off Riccall for a night cross country exercise. The most likely cause of this accident was reported as severe icing. The time of the crash was reported as 0115 hrs. Clearance operations duly took place near Slipstone Crags on Agra Moor to the west of Healey, 10 miles NW of Ripon Yorkshire. Sgt Bacon of Thorpe End Norwich, Sgt Manley from Chidwall, Liverpool and F/S MacGillivray their Canadian air bomber were buried in Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, while funeral services for the others were held at churches in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Crew.
Sgt. REC. Bacon +
Sgt. J. Titterington +
Sgt. GH. Manley +
F/O. H. McCarthy +
F/S. JJ. MacGillivray RCAF +
Sgt. BF. Taylor +
Sgt. AJ. Winton +
Sgt. DE. Phillips +

Note:
This particular crash has been well documented, through the records for 60 Maintenance Unit erroneously refer to the Halifax as a ‘Lancaster’ but, similar to their experiences with the other Riccall based aircraft the crash site was extremely isolated. Fortunately, the army were able to provide a Bren carrier, and this was used to take much of the wreckage to the unit’s own transport, parked some three miles distant.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards

Peter.

Is this the Halifax that crashed near Howden train station, running out of fuel just short of Breighton. If so there is some information in the local pub (The Barnes Wallis). I could get you this information if you wish, or you could contact Elvington as this is where the info comes from.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ali

These are some crashes from around those dates from the excellent http://www.allenby.info

http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/slips.html

http://www.allenby.info/aircraft/whern2.html

The Barnes Wallis is a very nice pub with excellent food. Lots of pictures from local war time bases. well worth a visit. The connection is the local airship station.

Is this the Halifax that crashed near Howden train station, running out of fuel just short of Breighton. If so there is some information in the local pub (The Barnes Wallis). I could get you this information if you wish, or you could contact Elvington as this is where the info comes from.

A bit off-topic I now but we’ve past that plave loads of times and nver imbibed! Now you’ve sadi that it might be worth dropping in on the way home from Breighton in September! Out of interest, what IS the connection with Wallis here?

Chris

Is this the Halifax that crashed near Howden train station, running out of fuel just short of Breighton. If so there is some information in the local pub (The Barnes Wallis). I could get you this information if you wish, or you could contact Elvington as this is where the info comes from.

Ali,

Only a quick reply but you could try Lost Bombers

Also, have a look at the relevant volume of Chorley’s ‘Bomber Command Losses of World War 2’ (1943 is Volume 4 and no, I unfortunately don’t have a copy – yet!).

Also, Peak District Air Accident Research (http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/) might be worth contacting – a very helpful bunch. We used them researching for our first book.

Either that or you could trawl through the Air Britain serials!

Chris