Wellington on Dufton Fell.
On the 20th of August 1942 the crew of this aircraft were underataking a night navigation training flight. They took off from Finningley at 21.30hrs
and whilst flying over the northern Pennines the weather closed in. After becoming lost they reduced height to try and work out their position
but flew into the top of Dufton Fell. Luckily it is not thought that any of the crew were seriously injured.
Pilot - Sgt Basil G Crew RCAF, of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Ok.
Probable crew consisted of..
Sgt R L Skillen,
Sgt A P Suter,
Sgt H W Campbell,
Sgt H R Nelsona,
Basil Crew J/17170 made his way up through the ranks to Squadron Leader and gained a DFC. He was sadly killed
on 5th January 1945 when his 427 Sqdn Halifax NR257 was hit by flak and crashed at Dudensen. He was aged 25 and is buried at
Hannover War Cemetery. He was OC of B Flight and was on his
second Tour at the time of his death. His DFC was awarded on 1st September 1943 ""as captain of aircraft this officer has successfully
completed a number of operational sorties. He has at all times displayed a high standard of courage and efficiency. His keenness
and devotion to duty under difficult and hazardous conditions have been of a high order"". He enlisted in Regina, Canada on 26th
February 1941, his DFC was invested by King George VI on 11th August 1944.
F/O H W Campbell was also Crew's aircraft on 5th January 1945 and was made a PoW.
The crew had been involved in another incident some weeks prior to this one on Dufton Fell, their aircraft developed trouble
whilst flying over the Teesside area
and the pilot ordered his crew to bale out. He then regained control and was able to land his aircraft safely at an airfield. Precise details of this incident are
not yet known. Sgt Crew and his crew were later posted to 429 Sqdn at Leeming, Yorkshire after completing their training.
I have yet to visit the crash site a long way from anywhere on Dufton Fell.