Wellington near Strensall, York.

In the morning of the 5th of January 1942 the crew of this aircraft were airtesting the aircraft prior to an Operational flight. When they took off at 09.28hrs there were intermittant snow showers over the Pocklington area. The pilot had flown this aircraft regularly and had previously been a fitter and was particular in checking his aircraft and engines prior to taking off. Whilst in the York area the aircraft suffered engine trouble, and the port engine then caught fire. At 10.15hrs the pilot is believed to have been attempting a forced landing near the military range at Strensall but lost control in bad visability caused by a heavy snow shower at the time or by the fire making control impossible. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft explode in the air prior to it hitting the ground. The offical report said it exploded on impact. All five airmen on the aircraft were sadly killed and were buried at Barmby Moor Churchyard on the 8th of January 1943 at 14.30hrs. The faulty engine was returned to Rolls Royce for closer inspection.

One airmen, a wireless operator, Sgt Melvin P F Robson RCAF, should have been on board but missed the transport at base taking him to the plane. As a result of this he had a very lucky escape although this would be shortlived; he was reported missing on Ops less than two months later.

The aircraft was built to contract B71441/40 and was delivered from Vickers Armstrongs at Weybridge to 23 MU at Aldergrove on 27th June 1941. It suffered damage "DA FA(B)" on 29th July 1941 and was sent to Weybridge on 2nd August 1941 where it was repaired by 13th Sept 1941. It was again delivered to 23 MU on 22nd September 1941 and was transferred to 104 Sqdn on 11th October 1941 who were based at Driffield. It was then transferred again some days later to 405 Sqdn on 24th October 1941. It was finally struck of charge 8th January 1942 following the accident at Strensall with total flying hours of 68 hour and 10 minutes.

Pilot - F/Sgt Osborne B LeFurgey RCAF, aged 32, of Alberton, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

2nd Pilot - F/Sgt Peter Wityck RCAF, aged 20, of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

AG - Sgt James D Garrow RAAF (404529), aged 21, of Ascot, Brisbane, Queensland, buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

W Op / Air Gunner - Sgt William A Robertson RCAF, aged 28, of Toronto, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire. He was married.

AG - F/Sgt John B Gayfer RCAF, aged 22, of Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. Buried Barmby Moor Churchyard, Yorkshire.

F/Sgt LeFurgey and his headstone at Barmby Moor Churchyard. He was married Kathrine Le Furgey of Summerside, PEI, Canada. He had a total of 45 hours military flying time when the crash occured, 25 of these being on the Wellington, although from the crash report it would appear that he was also a civilian pilot before enlisting amassing what appears to have been over 400 hours flying time in total. His commanding officer at 405 Sqdn assessed him as an above average pilot and very keen.

F/Sgt Wityck and his headstone at Barmby Moor Churchyard. I would like to thank Ms C. Suraci for contacting me regarding her late uncle, Peter Wityck.

The three remaining crew who's faces are currently not pictured.

Sgt James Garrow was born at Dalby, Queensland on 4th September 1920, he attended Dalby State School from 1932 to 1835 and Toowoomba Grammer School from 1935-37, whilst there he was a Cadet from 1936-39. He lost his father at an early age. He enlisted to the RAAF in Brisbane on the 13th September 1940 when his occupation had been a clerk; working at his brothers dry cleaning buisness. He was a Lewis gunner as a member of the 61st Btn, Queensland Cameron Highlanders from 1939-1940 but was discharged from this Btn on enlisting to the RAAF. He had half an hours civilian flying experience prior to enlisting, under dual control. He had also initially applied to join the RAAF in January 1940 but this was rejected as he required a hernia operation, which was carried out in the same month. He left Sydney on 28th December 1940 and almost a month later arrived in Canada to begin his initial training. He was awarded the air observer badge in May 1941 in Canada, and arrived in the UK in July 1941. He arrived at 22 OTU at Wellesbourne on 4th August 1941 and after completing his training he was posted to 405 Sqdn on 28th October 1941.