Halifax near Huby.

On the evening of the 16th of February 1944 this aircraft was one of four taking off from East Moor to undertake a night time training exercise - the Squadron were converting from Lancaster's to Halifax's during the month begining on 7th February 1944. The Squadron were also on "stand down" whilst this conversion took place. After taking off the aircraft had climbed too steeply and a stall had occured. The aircraft dived into the ground at 19.43 hrs to the north of Huby. The aircraft first crashed into a field but crossed a road and ended up in a small wood and caught fire. Sadly all on board were killed. While the pilot was experienced in flying other aircraft (he had 1531 hours flying to his name) he had only seven hours flying time on the Halifax and none of these hours were flying the Halifax at night. This was almost certainly his first attempt at a solo night-time take-off. Sadly his inexperience in flying the Halifax was said to be to blame for this incident. Having said that there is no doubt that he was a very capable airman having been awarded the DFC only two weeks prior to this incident.

The funeral for all of the crew was held at Sutton on the Forest church on the 22nd of February at 09.00 hrs, close to the full Squadron attended the service with burial at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery at 11.00 hrs with full military honours. This aircraft crashed only at matter of yards away from Halifax EB198 which had come down near Huby the previous year.

The aircraft was built to contract ACFT/891 by Fairey Aviation Ltd at Stockport and delivered directly to 432 Sqdn at East Moor in early February 1944. It was destroyed in the incident almost certainly only days after delivery and Cat.E2/FA Burnt damage was recorded.

Pilot - S/L William W Strachan RCAF DFC (J/9863), aged 28, of Trail, British Columbia, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

F Eng - P/O Joseph Gilliard RAF (54452), aged 22, of Killester, Dublin, Irish Republic. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Nav - P/O Maurice A Martin RCAF (J/18871), aged 23, of Delisle, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Bomb Aimer - F/O Nick J Baron RCAF (J/21045), aged 29, of Spedden, Alberta, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire.

Rear Gunner - P/O Howard M Stewart RCAF (J/19066), aged 21, of Walburg, Saskatchewan, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Husband of Mrs Dorothy M Stewart of Thirsk, Yorkshire.

Mid Upper Gunner - 1Lt Albert L Rorke USAAF (0-886242), of Canada but serving with US. Initially buried Brookwood, Surrey, re-buried Madingley, Cambs, Plot D Row 2 Grave 13.

W Op - F/O Robert C Stuart RCAF (J/18402), aged 24, of Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire. Husband of Eudene McClain Stuart.

This photograph shows the main part of Strachan's crew. P/O Gilliard is standing far right and the airmen kneeling on the left is probably Maurice Martin. Exactly who is who regarding the other four is not yet known.

The funeral procession makes its way through Sutton on the Forest to the village church (Photo Mr L. Molloy).

Joseph Gilliard's coffin is carried into the church by fellow 432 Squadron members (photo Mr L. Molloy).

Strachan and Gilliard's headstones.

William Strachan was born in Arbroath, Angus, Scotland in 1916 but moved to Canada when he was a child. He enlisted in Vancouver on 11th June 1940. He trained at 1ITS, 8 EFTS, 4 SFTS all in 1940. He was Commissioned in 1941.

Joseph Gilliard had trained as a motor mechanic in Dublin in the 1930's and had volunteered for the RAF when war broke out. He eventually graduated to aircrew and became a flight engineer. Killester was a village where a large number of returning Irish Soldiers were housed by the British Legion returning to Dublin after the First World War. Joe Gilliard's father had served in the trenches during World War One. With Ireland becoming an independent country in 1921 it was officially neutral during the Second World War but a large number of Irish people volunteered to serve in the British Canadian and US Forces. On the road that he lived nearly all the young men volunteered to join the British Forces, probably because all had relations who fought in the First World War. In all seven young men from the same road died during the War. Joe Gilliard had a brother who saw service in the War in an Air Sea Rescue role in the English Channel who returned home but died in the 1990's.

Nothing is yet known about the crew's flying prior to 432 Sqdn arriving at East Moor in early September 1943. 432 Sqdn began converting from Wellington's to Lancasters with 1679 HCF in September and October 1943, F/Lt Strachan and crew left on 20th September 1943 and returned to 432 Sqdn having done this training on 15th October 1943. The next few months would see them convert from Wellington's to Lancaster's and then to Halifax's.

26th November 1943, Strachan and crew flew Lancaster DS831 "N" to Berlin with F/Sgt Goodwin as 2nd pilot flying for operational experience.

30th November 1943, Sqdn/Ldr Strachan was appointed A Flight Commander of 432 Sqdn.

3rd December 1943, they flew Lancaster LL636 "B" to Leipzig

On 16th December 1943 they flew to Berlin in Lancaster LL636 and they attacked an enemy aircraft at 20.24hrs, the rear gunner fired a burst into an aircraft which broke into three peices and was not seen again. (The weather on this night was very bad on the return and a number of aircraft crashed or force landed away from their Yorkshire bases).

On 14th January 1944 they flew Lancaster LL636 to Brunswick but on approach they were attacked and damaged by a ME109 and later another aircraft. The gunner returned fire and they escaped after Strachan took evasive action. For his actions on this night William Strachan was awarded the DFC. As fate would have it this was only two weeks before his death, he got confirmation it was being awarded although it was not presented until December 1944 to his next of kin. His citation reads ....

""This officer has taken part in many attacks against targets in Germany and has displayed commendable skill, courage and determination. One night in January 1944 (14th Jan 1944), Squadron Leader Strachan piloted an aircraft which attacked Brunswick. Shortly after the bombs had been released the aircraft was hit by bullets from an enemy fighter. Much damage was sustained but Squadron Leader Strachan skilfully outmanoeuvred the attacker and afterwards flew the damaged aircraft to base. Squadron Leader Strachan is a model captain whose example has inspired all with whom he has flown."" An Me109 and a "four engined gun ship" had badly shot up the aircraft, on touching down it was realised the undercarriage was damaged, the aircraft slewed off at 90 degrees.

They flew Lancaster DS757 to Berlin on 28th January 1944 again the squadron's last operational Lancaster flight was on the night of 30th January 1944, again to Berlin when S/L Strachan and crew flew Lancaster DS757 "L".

I visited the crash site with Mr Andrew Hunter in March 2008 after his ground work had been carried out in locating the crash site. A sizeable water-filled hole remains in the woodland where part of the aircraft exploded. A small number of peices of wreckage were found around this hole including a parachute harness buckle. There is evidence at this crater to suggest the site had been dug many years ago.

A parachute buckle.

A couple of part numbers, the lower one with the "57" prefix confirms the aircraft as being a Halifax, the "B" as being from a wing section.

My thanks to Mr Les Molloy, nephew of P/O Joseph Gilliard, for the photographs and information he has been willing to share with regard his uncle and for the help his mother has been able to give through him.