6 Group Unavailable
1656 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) RAF Lindholme. Halifax B Mk II aircraft BB 254 crashed two minutes after taking off for a night navigation exercise near Dalepit Farm, Doncaster, Dunscroft, England. Two other Halifax aircraft also crashed in similar fashion on this flight, Halifax W 7875 and Halifax HR 794. The accident investigation into Halifax BB 254 revealed that the flaps were mistakenly retracted instead of the landing gear and the resulting loss of lift caused the heavy bomber to stall and crash. Five crew were killed and 2 survived
Flying Officer Michael Arnold Gleason (RCAF), Sergeant Dennis Arthur Dilley (RAFVR), Flying Officer Derek John Povey (RAFVR), Sergeant Ronald Thompson (RAFVR) and Sergeant Horace Samuel Emery (RAFVR) were all killed in this training flying accident
Flying Officer Peter Rowland Donald Senn (RAFVR) and Sergeant A Blanchard (RAFVR) both survived with injuries. There were also possibly two un-named civilians aboard the Halifax and slightly injured when it crashed
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
1656 Heavy Conversion Unit Halifax Mk II BB254 F/O Gleason RAF Lindholme....
