Halifax near Claxton Hall

On the 12th of June 1944 a Halifax on a training bombing exercise (possibly over the Strensall Ranges) when the port outer engine failed at 5000 feet, the pilot ordered his crew to bale out which they all did and he stayed with the aircraft to set about making a forced landing. This was done at 00.35hrs, three hours fifteen minutes into the flight to the west of Claxton Hall, north east of York. On crashing the aircraft caught fire, the pilot was pulled from the wreckage suffering from shock, burns, broken back and ankle. He was taken to York Military Hospital where it is thought he recovered to some extent. One prop blade from the offending engine was found to be missing at the time of the crash, this may or may not have been the reason for the engine failing in the first place. The rest of the crew were taken to RAF East Moor. This was the last Halifax MkII to be lost by a front line squadron.

The aircraft was built to contract B124357/40 by The London Passenger Transport Board Ltd at Leavesden and delivered directly to 419 Sqdn at Middleton St. George in late September 1943. It transferred on an as yet unspecified date to 428 Sqdn also at Middleton St. George in early 1944. It was written off as a result of this incident detailed above with Cat. E2/FA Burnt damage.

Pilot - F/O J Martin RCAF, of ? - seriously injured.

? - Sgt Blakeley RAF, of ? - slightly injured.

I have not yet visited the site of the crash although this and the other Halifax crash site near Flaxton could have the locations confused and this could infact be the one which is now part of Sandburn Hall golf course.