Halifax at Flixton.
This Halifax was returning from Ops to Berlin on the 29th of January 1944, it had lost its starboard outer engine over the target
area and had limped back to the Yorkshire coast on three engines where upon the starboard inner then packed up near Filey.
The order to bale out was given and the aircraft came down near Flixton at 08.00 hrs. The rear gunner had baled out too low,
he didn't survive. Locals recall that his parachute fouled the tail of the aircraft and he only became free when the chute tore.
677 aircraft had taken part in the raid, with 241 Halifax's taking part, and broken cloud was
reported over Berlin. The pilot was later awarded a DFC, partly for his actions in bringing his aircraft and crew home on this date
(despite the loss of the rear gunner). It was awarded 1st August 1944. The citation reads...
""This officer has been with the squadron since its formation, and has completed a total of twenty-nine sorties.
Twelve of these operations have been against heavily defended targets in Germany. While over the target on one of his attacks
on Berlin [28 January 1944], his aircraft was attacked by a fighter and the fuel tanks punctured. He successfully carried out
his mission and displayed exceptional skill, fearlessness and dogged determination in extricating his aircraft from a perilous
situation. He completed a hazardous and perilous return journey, safely bringing his aircraft over home soil. With the petrol
supply completely exhausted he was unable to reach an airport. With complete disregard for his personal safety he kept his
aircraft aloft until his crew had safely baled out, then abandoned it by parachute. His crew undoubtedly owe their lives to
the outstanding fortitude and skill of this officer. This officer's efficiency, zealous devotion to duty, exceptional
fearlessness and magnificent leadership are an inspiration and praiseworthy example of the highest order.""
The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/637/C4/C by Rootes Securities Ltd at Speke, Liverpool and delivered directly to 434 Sqdn
at Tholthorpe in July 1943. It moved with unit to Croft in December 1943 and was written off as a result of this incident with Cat. E2/FB
damage.
Killed was:
Rear Gunner - Sgt Joseph W R Demers RCAF, aged 21, of Quebec City, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery.
Survived were:
Pilot - P/O Murray F Flewelling RCAF, of Calgary, Canada. Ok.
2nd Pilot (Dickey?) - F/Sgt Edmund A (Ted) Vigor RCAF (J/85758), initially from Blagdon, Somerset, England but of St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. Ok.
F Eng - Sgt R N Dobney RAF, serious injuries.
Nav - F/O Don R Hutcheon RCAF, ok.
B/A - P/O Robert (Bob) J Brown RCAF, of 33 Dupont Ave, Toronto, ok.
WOp/AG - Sgt S Thompson RAF, ok.
AG - P/O J Clayton RAF, ok.
Sgt Demer's gravestone at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.
W/C F H Watkins and F/Lt Flewelling (right) standing in front of Halifax LW175 WL-Q "The Queen". This photograph must have been
taken after August 1944. The Halifax named 'The Queen' was MZ921, WL-Q, it was not delivered
to the RCAF until August 1944, Flewelling appears to have three medals under his Wings, by this time he could have
been awarded honours for crashing EB256 successfully or completion of missions, etc. His career is currently being researched.
He was born in Calgary in 1919 and was a clerk prior to enlisting there on 1st August 1942. he trained at No.7 ITS
(graduated 24 April 1942), 6 EFTS (graduated 31 July 1942) and 10 SFTS (graduated 20 November 1942). He was later commissioned in 1943.
He was recommended for the DFC on the 20th June 1944 when he had flown 29 sorties (162 hours 5 minutes flying time) between 12th August 1943
and 10th June 1944. F/LT Flewelling was awarded his DFC by King George VI on 11th August 1944 during a visit to Middleton St.George.
F/Lt Flewelling and part of his crew (two of which were on board at the time of this incident. The photograph depicts
434 Squadron's 1000th's mission was flown by crew 23. F/L Murray Flewelling, W/O Bob McCunn, F/O Don Hutcheon and P/O Bob Brown as shown.
(Photograph via Alan Soderstrom's website.)
WO Edmund Vigor and his crew were killed on 28th April 1944 when Halifax LL258 he was piloting was shot down over Belgium on Ops to Montzen.
The aircraft is believed to have been shot down by a night fighter piloted Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (the highest scoring
Luftwaffe night-fighter pilot in the War) and crashed in the vicinity of Nurop & Teuven, Belgium.
Ted Vigor is buried in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium. The above photograph shows Ted Vigor (far right) and two other members of his crew.
The crash site was dug some years ago and some of the larger items of the aircraft were recovered, this included a Browning machine gun which was, I am
told, later taken away by the police as it had not been de-activated. With the landowner being unwhitingly involved in this he has quite
understandably restricted access to the field and although I do know where the aircraft came down I have not taken any photographs of the area
On 4th October 1943 Flewelling and crew (varying slightly from the crew above) lost a hatch on take-off, they carried out
their flight to Kassel, Germany with the temperature on the aircraft going to minus 32 degrees. Flewelling was commisioned in late 1943,
his flight on 27th November 1943 as Pilot Officer was his first as an Officer.
