6 Group Unavailable
426 Thunderbird Squadron (On Wings Of Fire) RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Halifax VII aircraft PN 228 OW-A was climbing outward-bound for an operation against targets in Chemnitz, Germany when it was involved in a mid-air collision with 425 Squadron Halifax BIII aircraft MZ 845 KW-J, part of the same operation. Both bombers and crews were lost with the exception of a single survivor from Halifax MZ 845 KW-J who bailed out before his bomber crashed. Both aircraft crashed near Nun Monkton, Yorkshire, England with the bomb-load of Halifax PN 228 OW-A exploding on impact
The entire crew of PN 228 OW-A: Squadron Leader Eric Thomas Garrett (RCAF), Flying Officer John Leslie Atkinson (RCAF), Pilot Officer Harold Dick McLeod (RCAF), Flying Officer Kenneth George Parker (RCAF), Pilot Officer William Gordon Miller (RCAF), Pilot Officer John Blair Linstead (RCAF) and Pilot Officer Eric Stanley Jerome (RAFVR) were killed in action.
There was only one survivor between the two air crews. Please see aircraft serial MZ 845 KW-J for information on this crew and aircraft
There were four 426 Squadron Halifax aircraft lost on this operation. Please see aircraft serials LW 210 OW-Y, NP 793 OW-H and NP 799 OW-A for information on these aircraft and crews
There were seven 6 Group Bomber Command Halifax aircraft lost, forty aircrew were killed, and four aircrew injured due to icing and/or mid-air collision while outbound on this operation. All losses occurred shortly after take-off before crossing the the British coastline on-route to the target. From 420 Squadron: NA 184 PT-W and NA 190 PT-J, from 425 Squadron: MZ 454 KW-S and MZ 845 KW-J, from 426 Squadron: LW 210 OW-Y, NP 793 OW-H and PN 228 OW-A
Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire
05.03.1945 No. 426 RCAF Squadron Halifax VII PN229 OW-ASqn Ldr. ...
RAF losses 5./6. March 1945 [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air...
Bomber Command Museum Monthly ORB