Halifax near Staxton.
On the 11th of December 1942 a Scarborough ARP report that I have a copy of states that a British Bomber made a crash landing at
Staxton. This
report does not state what aircraft this was or any other details however but on the same date a 78 Sqdn Halifax was returning from Ops
to Turin when it suffered engine failure after icing had occured. At 23.35hrs this Halifax crash landed in a previously unlisted location
with all but one crew member surviving; he was reported as missing. The aircraft suffered Cat B. damage.
The aircraft was built to contract B73328/40 by Handley Page Ltd at Radlett and delivered directly to 78 Sqdn at Linton on Ouse
in September 1942. It suffered it's Cat.B/FB accident on 11th December 1942 and was repaired in works, this damage cannot
have been very severe as it was back in service with 77 Sqdn at Elvington in early 1943, being quickly transferred to
training duties with 1658 HCU at Riccall. It was finally written off with Cat. E/FA damage on 6th April 1943 when the its
port outer engine caught fire in flight and the aircrafts undercarriage collapsed when it made an emergency landing at Burn.
Two airmen sustained injuries in this incident at Burn.
Crew - unknown.
Crash location not known.
Three hours previously another 78 Sqdn Halifax had ditched in Filey Bay following an engine fire, all survived this incident.
Also on the same raid Halifax W7933 of Pocklington would come to grief on the North Yorkshire Moors near Hawnby with fatal results,
this incident is featured in my 1942 North Yorkshire Moors listings.