Halifax near Huby.

On the 15th of September 1943 the aircraft was setting out from Croft on a training flight, whilst over Ryedale the pilots escape hatch blew off and damaged the starboard fin as it came away, control was lost as a result. The pilot ordered his crew to bale out but he stayed with aircraft probably trying to either force land or make for the nearest airfield (possibly East Moor). The aircraft crashed just after 12.30 pm ( although this time varies between sources, ranging from 12.25, 12.35 and 12.45hrs). The rest of crew survived but the pilot was killed when the he tried to land the aircraft near Huby on land belonging to "Mr Newton". Police reports quote the aircraft as crashing near "Newtons Farm, Huby". There is no farm with this name but the location is north of Huby and not far from where Halifax LK761 would crash later. The aircraft burnt out and was written off in the crash. (YAM records state the pilot was actually trapped in the aircraft.)

The pilot's funeral took place on 21st September at 11.30hrs, Linton on Ouse supplied the Guard of Honour and the firing party and was attended by serving members of his crew. The Units chaplin, Sdn Ldr E S Lautenslager officiated. The pilot was to become one of the first airman to be buried in Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery and possibly the first in the new plot. Almost 1000 airmen would later be buried in this area cemetery.

The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities at Speke and delivered directly to 1664 HCU at Croft in June 1943. It was written off following this incident with Cat. E2/FA Burnt damage being recorded

Pilot - F/O Henry A Poulter RAAF (409940), aged 30, of St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

F Eng - Sgt Finlay, ok.

Nav - Sgt Way, ok.

B/A - P/O Christopher, ok.

W Op - Sgt S C Sharp, inj.

Air Gunner - Sgt Glass, ok.

Rear Gunner - Sgt Roninson, ok.

P/O Poulter's funeral and headstone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. He was born on 24th Sept 1912 at Richmond, Victoria and enlisted 7th Nov 1941 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was married and a school teacher by trade.