Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 / OO-A of No.1663 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, crashed near to Pateley Bridge on the 12th July 1943.

 

John Stuart Barber Flying Officer Pilot Injured
Walter Douglas Hall Sergeant Flight Engineer Injured
Thomas Henry Woollard Sergeant Navigator Killed
Thomas Reid Sergeant Bomb Aimer Killed
John Godley Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
Arthur James Walker Pilot Officer Air Gunner Injured
Douglas Walter Batten RAAF Sergeant Air Gunner Injured

 

The aircraft was on night cross country exercise from Rufforth, the crew encountered bad weather and the aircraft flew into high ground.

None of the four surviving crew members lived to see the end of the conflict.

F/O Barber was killed on the 22nd October 1943 while serving with 77 Sqn.  His aircraft, Halifax Mk.II JB856, crashed at Schönhagen.

Sgt Hall was posted missing on the 29th December 1943 while with 10 Sqn.  He was flying in Halifax Mk.II JD314 which was shot down by a night fighter near Meppel in Holland, Sgt Hall’s body was one of three not recovered from the crash site.

Sgt Batten was posted missing on the 22nd January 1944 while serving with 640 Sqn.  He was an air gunner on Halifax Mk.III LW459 which is believed to have crashed some 7 miles east of Flamborough Head.

P/O (later F/O) Walker was killed on the 14th October 1944.

Wreckage at the crash site of Halifax DG404 on Brown Hill Plain, Heathfield Moor, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire
Above is a photo of most of what remains at the crash site in the hills above Pateley Bridge.
Wreckage at the crash site of Halifax DG404 on Brown Hill Plain, Heathfield Moor, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire
Near by is this pit contained more wreckage from the aircraft.
Grave of Thomas Woollard at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery
Thomas Woollard, the aircraft’s navigator was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery.