On the 18th of December 1941 this aircraft took off from Croft at 15.53hrs for Ops to Brest, France. On their return they were unable to contact base and after becoming lost whilst flying in bad visibility they descended to try and work out their position. At 22.50hrs the aircraft flew into high ground near Simon Seat and caught fire. Only one airman sustained injuries, the other five are believed to have escaped uninjured.
Pilot - P/O J F Beadle (he remained in the RAF until 1959)
2nd Pilot - Sgt David Reid Cox RCAF (R/65319), of Isaac's Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. Slightly injured.
P/O Franklin
WOp/AG - Sgt Bernard H White RAF, from Newfoundland.
Sgt Gale
Sgt Kendall
I have yet to locate where this aircraft came down.
Bernard White, this photograph was taken in 1945. My thanks to the airmans son, Mr Bob White for this photograph and for the information he has kindly being able to share with me.
F/Sgt David Reid Cox RCAF would later act as a flying instructor with 1652 CU. He was killed near Wetherby on 14th April 1942 when Halifax L9576 crashed whilst on a training flight with and flying on only two engines. All nine onboard were sadly killed. He was still only 23 years old. He is buried at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.