Aircraft crash of Handley Page Halifax Mk III Bomber Serial No’s NA190. of 420 Squadron RCAF/RAF Tholthorpe, Yorkshire on the 5 March 1944, 8 miles S/W of Church Fenton nr Aberford, Yorkshire The aircraft had a full bomb load, exploded on impact and was entirely disintegrated.
All laid to rest in Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate, Yorkshire at 11-30 am on the 15 March 1945 with full military honours
Records in all the Canadian deceased have the following.
“Aircraft apparently broke cloud in a gentle let-down and then suddenly after one parachute had left (Flight Sergeant Waugh) dove to the ground very steeply”
There is no record as to why the Mid Upper gunner Flt Sgt Air Gunner R201625 James Harry Waugh was able to parachute out of the aircraft through rear entrance door, no one else followed.
He was in the highest position and not the easiest to get out of the aircraft.
No witness statement from F/S Waugh into the incident has been found.
Notes from the service record Flying Officer Air Gunner/Wireless Operator J879 51 Robert George SMITH
He was part crew of seven in a Handley Page Halifax Mk III Bomber Serial No’s NA190 which took off at 1629 from RAF Tholthorpe bound for a target at Chemnitz, Germany. The plane crashed and blew up at 1720 hrs at Hazelwood Castle (Hayton Woods) 3 miles South West of Tadcaster, North Riding, Yorkshire. 5 March 1945. The only survivor was Mid Upper gunner Flt Sgt James H Waugh RCAF who bailed out of the aircraft and survived the others died at the scene. The bodies of the remainder of the crew were unrecoverable for most part and reclassified “killed!”. Cause of the crash. The plane flew into a freezing cloud layer which caused the pale to plane to Ice up on outbound leg which caused the plane to dive steeply into the ground. There had been reports from other pilots about the freezing ice in the vicinity.
Circumstantial Report to the Air Ministry
Oxford Street London W.1. dated 7 March 1945
1. Further to this Unit’s signal A.63 dated 6/3/45 the following information is submitted.
(a) Lists the crew.
(b) Time of departure – 16.29 hours – 5/3/45
(c) Nature of duty – Bombing.
(d) Target area – Chemitz, Germany.
(e) No. of sorties by Pilot as a Captain of aircraft, 13 Operational Sorties.
(f) There was 2/10 clouds tops at 2500ft. Intermittent drizzle. Visibility 20 miles.
(g) Remarks: Taking off for operations the aircraft crashed at Church Fentos at 17.20 hrs on 5/5/45. In the crash all the crew with the exception of F/S Waugh were killed. F/S Waugh was un-injured.
https://www.controltowers.co.uk/t-v/tholthorpe.htm
The group image.
The person with his face blanked out was not part of the crew when it crashed.
Their service images were taken from there service records.
The images (three) of the Funeral procession were taken from the service record of R F Sollie
The Crew
Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 221828 Robert Louis DINNEN. Royal Air Force attached to 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force at RAF Bomber Command Tholthorpe, Yorkshire
Son of John and Susan Dinnen, of Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, Irish Republic.
Killed 5 March 1944 aged 21 years.
www.militaryimages.net
Pilot Officer, Pilot J93048 Roald Frederick SOLLIE. RCAF with 420 Squadron RCAF at RAF Bomber Command Tholthorpe, Yorkshire
Born on 24th April 1918 at Sortland, Norway, to Kristian Theodor and Emma Petrika
from Bentley, Alberta, Canada. Killed 5 March 1945 aged 27 years
Notes from his service record.
Enlisted 1st December 1941 at Edmonton Alberta as Aircraftman Class 2 R142702
Enlisted 1st December 1941 at Edmonton Alberta as Aircraftman Class 2 R142702
He trained at many location prior to being posted overseas.
On the 25 January 1943 posted to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Embarkation Depot
.Embarked from Halifax bound for UK 26 January 1943 disembarking in UK 4 December 1943. The next day transferred to (No3 PRC) Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Based at Bournemouth (UK) for deployment to his station.
3 March 1943 to 15 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF Caistor Northamptonshire.
10 August 1943 to No 22 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire.
26 October 1943 to 61 RAF Base attached to 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit at Dishforth Air Station, Yorkshire.
31st December 1943 to 420 Squadron
26 February 1944 posted to 62 (RCAF) Base. Reposted to 420 Squadron on the 1 August 1944
10 August 1944 to 61 Base attached to No 1659 (HCU) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire
Posted back to 420 Squadron on the 30 December 1944 from (as recorded) 76 Base.
Discharged from the RCAF (Special Reserve) 21 September 1944 on being granted a commission in the RCAF (SR) New service number J93048
Images of burial from his service record. They were taken by a photographer for RAF Harrogate Photographic Section 14 March 1945.
His brother Sergeant John Berge Sollie R150594 RCAF was part crew of a Wellington HF641 of 22 Operational Training Unit which crashed in Northamptonshire killing the crew. He is at rest in Brookwood Cemetery Surrey
killed as the result of an aircraft crash
His brother Sergeant John Berge Sollie R150594 RCAF was part crew of a Wellington HF641 of 22 Operational Training Unit which crashed in Northamptonshire killing the crew. He is at rest in Brookwood Cemetery Surrey.
killed as the result of an aircraft crash
Pilot Officer, Navigator J94503 William GABA. RCAF with 420 Squadron RCAF at RAF Bomber Command Tholthorpe, Yorkshire
Born on 1st May 1923 at Yuskowychi Ukraine, Russia to Stefan and Ahafia Gaba, nee Takarski of 10 Lipincott Street Toronto Canada,
Killed in an aircraft crash 5 March 1945 aged 21 years.
Notes from his service record
Enlisted for RCAF service 12th October 1942 in Toronto as Aircraftman R163301
The 28 January 1944 awarded his air navigators' flying badge. He had 20 hours flying a Tiger Moth.
Prior to embarking for UK he had training and various location, No 4 Wirless School, No 6 Initial Training School. No10 Elementary Flying Training School the 10 July 1943, No 1 Air Observer School etc.
The 22 March 1944 he was posted to (No1 YD) No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Embarkation Depot. Embarked for UK from Halifax 30 March 1944 disembarking at UK 7 April 1944. Later he was posted to (No3 PRC) Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Based at Bournemouth (UK) for deployment to his station.
20 June 1944 posted to (7(O)AFU) No.7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit No.29 Group at Bishops Court RAF.
25 July 1944 to 86 Operational Training Unit RAF Gamston, Nottinghamshire
Posted to No. 61 (Training) Base RCAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire, attached to No 1659 (HCU) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, same place.
30 December 1944 posted to 420 (Snowy owl) Squadron RCAF as crew for Handley Page Halifax III Bombers. They were part of RAF Bomber Command RCAF Air Defence Command and Canadian Forces Air Command.
He received a back-dated commission after his death, dated to 4th March 1945 and given number J94503
RAF Form 39. Hospital or Sick List Record Card
His remains were taken to (S.S.Q) Station Sick Quarters, RCAF Station, RAF Tholthorpe Yorkshire on the 5 March 1945. He had multiple injuries and burns.
He was involved in an aircraft accident to a Halifax which crashed 8 miles S/W of Church Fenton nr Aberford, Yorkshire earlier that day.
Flying Officer, Bomb Aimer J92691 Emmet Solomon KAECHELE. RCAF with 420 Squadron RCAF at RAF Bomber Command Tholthorpe, Yorkshire
Born on 28th November 1917 at Drumheller, Alberta to Reverend Solomon and Emma Kaechelefrom Red Deer Alberta Canada
Husband of Lulu Grace, nee Ewing who he married 1 January 1943 at Rimbey Alberta officiated by his father. They at Box 397 C.N.C Red Deer Alberta. ( BOX. If you live outside the postal delivery system you are given a Box number. Your mail is put into this box at the post sorting office where you can collect it at any time.)
Killed in an aircraft crash 5 March 1945 aged 27 years.
Notes from his service record
Enlisted 3rd June 1942 at Calgary as Aircraftman R168625. Previous service, Calgary Tanks 1949 – 42 (The King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC))
On the 28 May 1943 he was awarded his Air Bombers' flying badge
His last training post in Canada was on the 17 April 1943 to No 7 Air Observer School, R.C.A.F., Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
Prior to his posting to UK he did basic training in various locations in Canada.
11 June 1943 he was posted to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Embarkation Depot
23 June 1943 Embarked Halifax for UK, disembarking UK 1 July 1943. The following day he was transferred to No3 Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Based at Bournemouth (UK) for deployment to his station.
14 July 1943 posted to No 6 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF Staverton, Gloucestershire
10 August 1943 No 22 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire
26 October 1943 posted to 61(Training) Base RCAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire, attached to No1664 (HCU) Heavy Conversion Unit 1664 based at RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire
10 August 1944 he was posted back to 61 Base
31 December 1943 posted to 420 squadron,
1 August 1944 post to Bomber Command 415 (Swordfish) Squadron East Moor Air Station Yorkshire
8 November 1944 attached to No 1659 (HCU) Heavy Conversion Unit Topcliffe Air Station Yorkshire
Discharged from the RCAF (Special Reserve) 22 August 1944 on being granted a commission in the RCAF (SR) New service number J92691
30 November 1944 posted to 61 Base. 30 December 1944 posted back to 420 Squadron from ( as recorded in his records) 76 Base
Flying Officer Air Gunner/Wireless Operator J87951 Robert George SMITH. RCAF with 420 Squadron RCAF with RAF at Tholthorpe, Yorkshire.
Born on 9th April 1923 i to Joseph and Florence Smith nee Andrews and resided at 718 Athabasca East, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. (
Killed in an aircraft crash 5 March 1945 aged 21 years.
Notes from his service record.
He enlisted for RCAF service on 28th May 1942 in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada
His last posting in Canada was to No 1 "
Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Embarkation Depot
27 May 1943 Embarked Halifax for UK, disembarking UK 4 June1943 and transferred the next day to (No3 PRC) Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Based at Bournemouth (UK) waiting for deployment to his station.
29 June 1943 posted to No 1((O)AFU), (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit. RAF Wigtown. 18 August 1943, No 22 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire
26 October 1943 attached to 61 Base Posted to No.61 (Training) Base RCAF Topcliffe, Yorkshire, attached to 24 November 1943 attached to 1664 Conversion Unit RAF Croft. The unit had the Canadian name Caribou. He returned to his unit, 420 Squadron on the 31 December 1943.
22 May 1944 he was sent to 434 Squadron RCAF at RAF Croft to 14 August 1944when he returned to 61 Base.
Gained a Commission on the 2 July 1944 service number changed to J87951
26 October 1944 was at 6 Group Aircrew School, Dalton Yorkshire attached 18 November1944 to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit. Topcliffe, Yorkshire
30 December 1944 posted back to 420 Squadron
Brief extract. The aircraft (a/c) crashed with a full bomb load which had exploded on impact with the result that the a/c was entirely disintegrated. No bodies had been recovered and only small bits of clothing had so far been picked up. He did not believe any bodies would be recovered.
The person with his face in blanked out was not on that fateful flight.
Pilot Officer Air Gunner J94502 Ralph Oscar BATTLER. RCAF with 420 Squadron RCAF at RAF Bomber Command Tholthorpe, Yorkshire.
Born on 30 January 1925 at 27 College Street, Kitchener to Weston Detweiler and Clara Margaretha Battler later 106 Onward Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario. Died on an aircraft crash 5 March 1945 aged 20 years.
Notes from his service record
On enlistment into the RCAF 3rd December 1942 at London, Ontario he was serving at Private (Truck driver) with the 1st Scots Fusiliers from 1 April 1942. He would have been discharged from the army for enlistment with the RCAF.
The 19 May 1944 after basic training, he was awarded his air gunners' flying badge
1 July 1944 he was post to No 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Embarkation Depot
11 July 1944 he embarked Halifax for UK, disembarking UK 18 July 1944 and transferred the next day to No3 Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Based at Bournemouth (UK) waiting for deployment to his station.
8 August 1944 he was posted to No 22 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire.
25 October 1944 at Aircrew School Walton attached to 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit. Topcliffe, Yorkshire
30 December 1944 he was posted to 420 Squadron.
RAF Form 39. Hospital or Sick List Record Card
His remains were taken to (S.S.Q) Station Sick Quarters, RCAF Station, RAF Tholthorpe Yorkshire on the 5 March 1945. He had multiple injuries and burns.
He was involved in an aircraft accident to a Halifax which crashed 8 miles S/W of Church Fenton nr Aberford, Yorkshire earlier that day.
After his death he received a commission back dated to 4 March 1944
http://aircrewremembered.com/sollie-roald-frederick.html
