Handley Page Halifax Mk.II BB320 / A2 of No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, crashed near to Cellerhead in Staffordshire on the 7th February 1944

 

Ernest Charles David Richards Pilot Officer Pilot Killed
Albert John Denny Sergeant Flight Engineer Killed
Hubert Lloyd Kerr RCAF Flying Officer Navigator / Bomb Aimer Killed
Kenneth Murray Sergeant Navigator Killed
William Desmond Joshua Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
Herbert John Couling Sergeant Air Gunner Killed

 

The crew were on a night navigation exercise from RAF Lindholme near Doncaster, having taken off at 17:40.  A little under an hour into the flight the aircraft was seen to emerge from cloud in a spin and crashed into a field in the Cellerhead area where the wreck was destroyed by fire.

The AM Form 1180 recorded that control had likely been lost following an engine failure while in the cloud, may be as a result of icing.

Crash site of Handley Page Halifax Mk.II BB320 at Cellerhead near Leek, Staffordshire
Above is a the crash site of BB320, very little of the aircraft remains at the site today, most having been cleared at the time and later excavated by M.H.A.S.
Grave of Pilot Officer Ernest Charles David Richards at Chester Blacon Cemetery
Pilot Officer Ernest Charles David Richards’ grave at Chester Blacon Cemetery
Grave of Sergeant Albert John Denny at Wandsworth Streatham Cemeter
Sergeant Albert John Denny is buried at Wandsworth Streatham Cemeter
Grave of Flying Officer Hubert Lloyd Kerr RCAF at Chester Blacon Cemetery
Flying Officer Hubert Lloyd Kerr’s grave at Chester Blacon Cemetery
Grave of Sergeant Herbert John Couling at Chester Blacon Cemetery
Grave of Sergeant Herbert John Couling is also buried at Chester Blacon Cemetery