Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DK185 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, crashed on the edge of Crawshaw Moss near to Ilkley on the 31st January 1944.
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
| Donald George Mcleod | Pilot Officer RCAF | Pilot |
Killed |
| Felix Byrne | Sergeant | Flight Engineer |
Killed |
| Lewis Riggs | Warrant Officer RCAF | Navigator |
Killed |
| Robert Henry Rahn | Sergeant RCAF | Bomb Aimer |
Killed |
| William George King | Warrant Officer RCAF | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner |
Killed |
| George Martin | Sergeant RCAF | Air Gunner | Killed |
| Albert Lorne Mullen | Sergeant RCAF | Air Gunner | Killed |
The aircraft had taken off from Dishforth in the Vale of York on a night navigation exercise, the crew were flying some 40 miles to the south of their intended track and about 17:30 the aircraft struck the ridge above Ilkley and the aircraft disintegrated and burst into flames killing all 7 of the crew.
A memorial stone was placed at the crash site on the 61st anniversary of the crash in January 2006, this makes the site easy to find.
Above is a close up of the plaque.
The Canadian members of the crew were all buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, below are photographs of their graves.
