Halifax JD208, NP-H, returning from operations to Essen, crashed at Millingdale Farm, Lowthorpe, 02.50hrs, killing all on board. Locals tried to pull the airmen from the wreckage, but were driven back by the fire, and exploding ammunition.
F/O R.W. Buckland.
Sgt R.J.C. Dean.
F/O W.R. Tidball.
P/O D.A. Dyball.
Sgt H. Scott.
Sgt T.Gates.
Sgt G.W. Yare.
Details from Chorley's BC Losses, and 158sqdn ORB, (Operations Record Book)
Alan.
-- Edited by AW on Sunday 11th of November 2012 11:44:40 AM
-- Edited by AW on Sunday 11th of November 2012 11:45:43 AM
-- Edited by AW on Sunday 11th of November 2012 11:46:56 AM
Remembrance Day today and my son was in parade with cubs. He always chooses to place his wooden cross on one of the three RAF graves amongst the 19 CWWGC graves in the churchyard at ALll SAints Frindsbury, overlooking Chatham Dockyard (as was!)
This year he really wants to know who these people were.
From 158 Sqn website we have ascertained that: Flight Engineer R.J.C Dean 1605270 RAF VR from Gillingham was killed 26/7/1943 aged 17
along with his pilot, Flying Officer R W Buckland 133113 RAF VR, just four days after joining the Sqn from the 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit which had been formed in the March to train crews on the new Halifax Bomber.
I am, as yet, unable to find any details of the event that led to their death. Can anyone tell me how/where they crashed?
The other members of the crew are buried as follows.
R W Buchland - Goldern Green Crematorium. W R Tidball - Witeridge Chapekyard. D A Dyball - Harrow Cemetery. H Scott - Inverurie Cemetery. T Gates - Carnmoney. G W Yare - Seaham Cemetery.
The raid by 705 aircraft was successful with damage recorded in Essen's industrial areas in the eastern part of the city. The Krupps works suffered what was the most damaging raid of the war. 51 industrail buildings were deestroyed and another 83 damaged. 2,852 houses were destroyed, and about 500 people were killed. 26 aircraft were lost in this raid.
The aircraft JD208 was returning from its 14th operation. Only arriving 4 days before their death this was no doubt their first operation.
Please excuse the tardy reply, I have only just discovered this post.
Roderick "John" Dean was my uncle, eldest son of Jessie and Jack Dean.
Most of his childhood was spent in Frindsbury, that's why he's buried at All-Saints there.
I've visited the farm in Yorkshire. Their Halifax narrowly missed the farm-house and crashed in the farm 'stacking yard', destroying all the hay supply in the fire.
It was indeed their first operational trip as a crew, except for the pilot who had flown as second pilot on one previous trip.
I really appreciate the effort your young lad made to commemorate my uncle, though he may be a little too old for that now in 2016.
If he would like a picture of him in RAF uniform please contact me at michael.curness@sympatico.ca
