6 Group Unavailable
428 Ghost Squadron (Usque Ad Finem) RAF Dalton. Flying out of RAF Station Dishforth, Yorkshire rather than the Squadron home field of RAF Dalton, Wellington X aircraft HE 173 NA-S was on a night flying exercise when it crashed one mile north-west of the aerodrome at RAF Dishforth. The aircraft had already been flown on a cross-country flight earlier that night and the crew had reported no issues with the aircraft, although an engine starter motor issue had prevented this aircraft from participation in operations the night of January 28/29. The crew then made three successful take-off and landing circuits from RAF Dishforth and at 02:12 they began a fourth. The aircraft climbed normally to between 300 and 500 feet, but then gradually descended until it crashed just north-east of the airfield. The crash-site was near Lingham Lane Farm and three of the four aboard were killed. It was thought that the pilot was so pre-occupied in making sure that the flaps and undercarriage were raised after take-off that he failed to keep the aircraft's nose up. The rear gunner was the only survivor. A Wellington bomber would normally have a crew of five but the Squadron Operations Record Book confirms the number of four aircrew aboard for this flight.
This accident was the first fatal accident 428 Squadron had sustained since it formed in November 1942
Flying Officer George Wood (RCAF), Flying Officer Norman Gorick (RAFVR), Flight Sergeant William Mossop (RAFVR) were all killed in this training flying accident
The rear gunner, Sergeant John Welsh (RAFVR) was the only survivor from this crash
(detail provided by John Jones, London, UK)
Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database
ircraft accidents in Yorkshire
428 Squadron Wellington X HE173 NA-S Flying Officer Gorick
