6 Bomber Group April 12, 1944
6 Halifaxes from 431 squadron were sent out on a sea search. All returned safely, but unsuccessful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
The crew of Halifax III aircraft LW 614 QO-S were engaged in air to air firing training when it crashed at Deepdale Farm, Langdale End, North Yorkshire, England
Pilot Officer FC Hindmarsh (RCAF), Pilot Officer DG Bell (RCAF), Pilot Officer AK Clarke (RCAF), Pilot Officer TH Woodard (RCAF), Sergeant FE Cranch (RCAF), Sergeant H Halliwell (RAFVR) and passenger Leading Aircraftman DV MacKenzie (RCAF) were all killed in this flying accident
There was one surviving crew member, rear air gunner Sergeant DSM MacNeil (RCAF)
On 1944-04-12, Squadron Leader A. Ross Dawson, the Chief Technical Officer with 1664/1679 HCU at Wombleton, wrote in his diary:
Warning: The following material contains graphic content that may not be suitable for all readers.
"Got news of a crash a/c west of Pickering . . . located it at last, way up in the Moors and what a mess it was. I had a hard time trying to find out what kind of aircraft it was until I found an engine with a DH Hydromatic prop on it and then I knew it was a Halifax MkII, LW 614 -S, from East Moor we found out later. It was still burning when we got there. . . six recovered bodies, all Canadian boys. . .there was still another body in the wreckage but couldn't get it out since he was only in pieces anyway. I've got over being squeamish about such things but I still don't like the smell . . it is really & truly horrible."
Diary of A Ross Dawson, courtesy CWMAddendum: The crew were engaged in ground to air firing when one of the engines failed. The aircraft went out of control at 50 feet, stalled crashed and burst into flames. Detail provided by David E Thompson, Middlesborough, England
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