Article in the York Press 20.02.08

Memorial to crashed bomber crew By Press reporter

A PLAQUE has been unveiled in a Selby district church, marking the 65th anniversary of a Second World War British bomber crashing nearby.

The brass plaque, recording the fate of the RAF Halifax DT696, which flew from Rufforth Airfield to bomb Cologne in Germany, has been unveiled at St Helen's Church, Stillingfleet.

The bomber, which was flown by 158 Squadron, crashed in a field between Cawood and Stillingfleet, and all seven crew members were killed.

The move came after a local history society, the Stillingfleet Chroniclers decided it wanted to mark the anniversary of the crash, which happened on February 14, 1943.

Jocelyn Appleyard, a member of the society, said: "There were seven crew and they were all killed. We found there was nothing around about the Halifax and we as the Stillingfleet Chroniclers decided we would like to put a memorial up."

The plaque was unveiled by H N (Bluey) Mottershead DFC, president of the 158 Squadron Association.