Halifax training crash 7/6/1944???

[Bombphoon]

Hello chaps

Just had a day at Yorkshire's RAF Elvington bomber museum - thoroughly recommend it, plenty to see - and they have a map of all the RAF crashes in Yorkshire.

According to one of the dots on the map, it says a Halifax crashed on 7th June 1944 whilst on a fighter affiliation exercise, after an engine caught fire. Apparently it crashed near the villages of Mickley/West Tanfield, near Ripon.

However, speaking to locals and looking at records, I'm unable to find any reference at all to this - is this a case of a mis-read map reference?!

If anyone is able to provide any further detail e.g. map ref, sqn, crew losses etc I would be very grateful!

Many thanks

Austin

[Leendert]

Austin,

This website offers more on Yorkshire crashes: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/

There was a Halifax crash on 7/8 June 1944, but this one was at Cawton.

I suppose you're more familiar with the place names on the website to make a better judgment if the crash you're looking for is among those listed.

Regards,

Leendert

[Peter Clare]

Hi Austin

I've come up with the following, could this be your crash?

Regards
Peter

7 June 1944

1652 HCU
Halifax II DT554 GV-P
Training.

F/O. W H. Dixon inj
Sgt. J R. Dodsworth inj
F/O. W T. Harding
P/O. I D H. Clarson
P/O. M P. Moreton
Sgt. D R. Brown inj
Sgt. J. McGoldrick inj

Took off 1045 Marston Moor for fighter affiliation training. At approimately 1220 the Halifax crashed between Mickley and West Tansfield, two small villages 5 and 6 miles respectively NW of Ripon, Yorkshire. Sgt McGoldricks injuries proved fatal and he died at 1920 hrs while undergoing treatment in York Military Hospital, he rests in Byer Moor Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Four, F/O. Harding, P/O. Clarson, P/O. Moreton and Sgt. Brown re-crewed with W/O. G H. Stratford of 76 Squadron and all perished during a raid against a flying-bomb facility at Acquet on 18-19 July 1944.

Bomber Command Losses Vol.8 - W R. Chorley

[Bombphoon]

That's it! Thanks Peter!
The locals had never heard of it. Quite reasonably, they thought that such an event would be memorable... this one seems to have slipped under the radar...
Thanks again
Austin