On the 22nd of August 1942 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a night cross-country training flight over northern England when, 2.5 hours into the flight they flew into high ground west of Masham at 03.20hrs in poor visibilty. Although many suffered from shock they all were lucky and survived. The Navigator was blamed for the crash, when asked he stated it was safe to descend, not realising they were over high ground.
Pilot - P/O Thomas G Hackney RAFVR, of Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia. He was awarded a DFC either before or after this incident.
F/Eng - Sgt S Dorrington
Nav - Sgt Aubrey W Coley RAFVR, of North End, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.
BA - F/Sgt W J Rose
W Op - P/O W B Cook
MU G - Sgt Rufus I Gruber RAFVR, of Mashaba, Southern Rhodesia. His brother Maurice also died on service.
RG - Sgt F M Wesson, slightly injured.
In July 2006 I located the site, with thanks to directions from Dick Barton. Only one peice of aircraft remains on site. Railway sleepers and a tin mug were also located, probably left by the RAF MU team.
Whilst serving with 83 Sqdn, Hackney (23 years old) and Coley (24 years old) and his new crew went missing on 7th November 1942.
Still with 44 Sqdn, Gruber was killed two days after his former skipper on 9th November 1944, he was 21 years old. He had been awarded a DFM prior to his death at the age of 23.
Although not yet confirmed a William Rose was also killed on 7th November 1942 serving with 207 Sqdn, he was from Melsetter, Southern Rhodesia. If this is the same man he had re-trained as a Navigator.
As listed in some older sources, this aircraft did not crash near Ellingstring, that being Lancaster NF963.