This aircraft flew into high ground and burnt out at 16.03hrs on the 5th of September 1943 whilst it was being flown
in bad visibility. The crew were undertaking a daylight training exercise.
The pilot or the instructor pilot broke through the cloud and misjudged their position, the aircraft struck Rudland Moor, to the west
of Farndale. The aircraft was in the air for 55 minutes prior to the crash. Wreckage was spread over a large area which made
recovery of it difficult. Sadly the eight airmen on board were killed.
The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd at Speke and delivered directly to 1663 HCU at Rufforth
in March 1943. It was destroyed in the incident detailed above with Cat E2/FA Burnt damage. The accident is mentioned in 3 O.R.B.'s but
with little details: Rufforth ORB states "05.09.43. Halifax DG402 crashed on Rudland Moor. All killed." Marston Moor ORB states
"05.09.43. Halifax from Rufforth crashed at Kirkbymoorside. 8 killed." and 60 MU ORB states "Halifax DG402. Cat. E2.
Salvaged from Middleham Moor, near Kirkbymoorside. Aircraft scattered over 3 1/2 miles, nearest loading point 1 1/2
miles." The location of "Middleham Moor" is not yet known.
Instructor Pilot - F/O Jeffery S Thomas RAFVR, aged 22, buried Crick, Northants. He had 443 hours experience on piloting Halifax's. Husband of Elizabeth Thomas, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. He was also a B.Sc. graduate of Birmingham University.
Pilot - Sgt Arthur C Dickinson RAFVR, aged 21, of Mansfield, buried Nottingham Road Cemetery, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
Nav - Sgt Ronald W Woods RAFVR, aged 20, of Manor Park, buried Ilford's Barkingside Cemetery, Essex.
Air Bomber - F/Sgt Robert M Todd RCAF, aged 21, of Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada. Buried Carluke, Wilton Cemetery, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He is buried with his grandparents.
F Eng - Sgt Frank Johnson RAFVR, aged 22, of Preston, Lancs, buried Preston New Hall Lane Cemetery, Lancs.
W Op / Air Gunner - Sgt Albert W Salt RAFVR, aged 21, of Witney, buried Witney Burial Ground, Oxfordshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt Edward J Hitchcox RAF(AAF), aged 32, of ?, buried Sutton and Cheam Cemetery, Surrey.
Air Gunner - Sgt Wallace J R Blakeley RCAF, aged 20, of Almonte, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.
F/O Thomas's headstone at Crick, Northants (thanks to Mr J Skinn for this photo) and Sgt Blakeley's headstone at Harrogate.
F/Sgt Robert Todd's grave at Carluke Cemetery.
Two prop marks, close to the point of impact. Two deep gouges on the hillside close to the steep drop into Farndale.
I tried to locate the site with Will in January 2002. Due to a number of slightly wayward grid refs, we searched an area moor but did not find anything. I visited the area of the crash again in September 2002 with Caroline, this time we found the crash site.
I revisited the site with John in March 2003 and carried out a wider search to determine the extent of existing wreckage. I revisited the site on the 60th anniversary of the crash at 16.00 hrs to pay my respects.
A small example of wreckage that scatters the moor; wood, glass, perspex, copper, alluminium, rubber...
