On the 14th of November 1943 this aircraft took off from its base at Marston Moor to be given an airtest. Soon after take off the aircraft's two starboard engines failed. Three minutes after take off and out of control the aircraft crashed into a brick lined pond behind the former Vale of York Hotel by the side of the A59 road and apparently disappeared into the ground. The pond was excavated recently and made into a widelife pond, it was during these works that some remains were dug out, along with old cars and rubble. Of the five on the aircraft one was fortunate to have sustained only minor injuries, his four crew mates sadly were not and all were killed in the crash

Pilot - F/O Terence McKinley DFC RNZAF (402544), aged 21, of Wellington City, New Zealand. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (Sec. C. Row D. Grave 20).

Pilot - S/Ldr Peter J Emerton RAF (37762), aged 26, of Sheerness, Kent. Buried Aldershot Military Cemetery (grave AA, 49).

F Eng - P/O Norman N (Bubs) Beale RAFVR (53081), aged 22, of St Leonards on Sea. Buried Hastings Cemetery, Sussex (Div. M. Sec. F. Row F. Grave 24).

Gnd Crew - AC1 George H Harrison RAFVR (1611886), aged 21, of Thurnscoe, buried Dearne (Thurnscoe) Cemetery (Sec. J. Row B. Grave 41.)

Gnd Crew - AC2 T D McCormack RAFVR, minor injuries.

Local people believe this aircraft to have been a Lancaster, this was not the case.

The pilots gravestone. He had completed a Tour with 102 Sqdn and was awarded his DFC for this.

Remaining wreckage under a holly bush near the crash site. My thanks to Mr Ian Donnison for this photograph.