Wellington near Stokesley.

On the 21st of December 1942 a Wellington was on a training flight from East Moor, the aircraft flew over the North York Moors and whilst near Stokesley both airscrews encountered problems. The skipper ordered the six crew to abondon the aircraft. This was done ok, with the exception of the rear gunner who was injured. East Moor took charge of the crash, they sent transport to gather the crew up, put a guard on the aircraft and destroyed secret equiptment it was carrying. I have not been able to locate the exact crash location, Chorley's losses entry lists it as 3 miles SSE of Stokesley, another say 2 and 1/2 miles SSE Stokesley, another states it crashed near Kirkby near Stokesley. The six on board were:

Pilot - Sgt John H Black RCAF, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ok. Joined 429 Sqdn from 29 OTU on 16 Dec 1942

Nav - Sgt A Napier. Ok. Joined 429 Sqdn on 16 Dec 1942 from 29 OTU.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Peter G Rothera RAFVR, of South Tottenham, Middlesex. Ok. Joined 429 Sqdn on 16 Dec 1942 from 29 OTU.

W Op / Air Gunner - P/O Peter S Bastian RAFVR. Ok.

W Op / Air Gunner - Sgt J H West RAF. Ok.

Rear Gunner - Sgt R G Moore RAF, serious back injuries. Joined 429 Sqdn on 16 Dec 1942 from 29 OTU.

This Wellington loss was the first MkIII loss by 429 Squadron. I have yet to locate the crash site.

Four of this crew had just arrived at 429 Sqdn on 16 Dec from 29 OTU, they were, Black, Rothera, Moore and Napier. Whilst at 29 OTU the four named were involved in another lucky escape, again Sgt Black was the pilot. Wellington X4001 was taking off at North Luffenham for a night flying exercise on 16 Nov 1942 when it struck a fuel bowser which was inadvertantly crossing the runway due to a misunderstanding on the part of the bowser driver. The aircraft crashed injuring all six on board.

On the 2nd of March 1943, Sgt Black was also the skipper of Wellington HZ260. The crew were detailed for a mine laying operation to the Nectarine fields. The aircraft was attacked by the enemy killing one of the crew. The aircraft eventually ditched in the North Sea, 87 miles off Cromer where two of the crew managed to get into the dingy. The remaining other two crew sadly did not and went down with the aircraft and were lost. The Pilot, Sgt Black and the bomb aimer, Sgt Rothera had both been in the Wellington at the OTU when it crashed and had baled out of the Wellington near Stokesley afew months previously and now found themselves in a dingy in the middle of the North Sea. Over two days later a ASR aircraft located the two afloat in the North Sea and rescue came, Sgt Rothera was picked up tired but alive, sadly Sgt Black had died of exposure afew hours earlier. Sgt Black's body was returned to East Moor and he was buried on the 8th March, along with another airman from another crash. The service was held at Sutton on Forest village church, both Civil priest and RAF padre conducted the service. Sgt Black was laid to rest at Midday in Huby Road Cemetery, where he still lies.

Sgt Rothera went back to 429 Sqdn East Moor. The casual reader to this webpage would hope that he had seen more than his fair share of bad luck, however looking through the losses book it appears that he was to be killed on 4th July 1943 when the Wellington he was in was shot down. He was initially buried locally in Holland but his remains were taken to Bergan op Zoom War Cemetery after the War ended. He was 25 years old.