Letter from S G (Stan) Adams to Rebecca Dunn concerning the collision of two Halifax at RAF Pocklington
Title
Letter from S G (Stan) Adams to Rebecca Dunn concerning the collision of two Halifax at RAF Pocklington
Description
Gives account of author's operation and then watching the collision of two Halifax while preparing to land. Makes some comments on danger of operations. Gives details of both aircraft involved, one from Pocklington with relative of Rebecca on board and the other from Elvington. Lists name of crews as recorded in a book and comments on errors by author of the book. Gives further detailed account of operation to Berlin and the collision quoting from another book. Suggest other sources of information about graves and other details.
Creator
Date
1999-06-14
Language
Format
Two-page typewritten letter
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
EAdamsSGDunnR990614
Transcription
[inserted] 1/ [/inserted]
MR AND MRS S G ADAMS
[censored]
14th, June 1999.
Dear Miss Dunn, Rebecca)
Here as promised during our talk on the telephone is a photo-stat copy of the newspaper article giving details of the very sad event of the two Halifax aircraft which collided on the circuit of Pocklington airfield whilst preparing to land, resulting in the loss of life of both crews. Fourteen airmen which included your relative.
On that particular raid we developed engine trouble could not maintain height and was using too much fuel, which would very likely mean a ditching in the English Channel on our way home. Thats how our Engineer saw it after working out our fuel consumption. The skipper decided to abort the mission, seem to remember him saying later he was told he should have pressed on to the target.
After debriefing and something to eat we returned to our barracks which were behind the “Plough Inn” at Allerthorpe. Hearing the aircraft returning we went outside and stood on top of the mound of earth over the air raid shelter to watch them circling preparing to land.
Having witnessed the incident, it stays very vivid in my memory. It was obvious that two aircraft had crashed into one another and we said at the time “Poor lads doubt if any one would survive that. They would be chatting and thinking, thats another one over lets get down for those Bacon and Eggs, which by the way we always got on our return from operations.
It was always said, Danger was not over till one was sat in the mess. To comment further. Taking off and landing was always regarded as a dangerous time, not only for the action itself but for the danger of collision. With so many aircraft in the air in the same vicinity the chances were always great. Was warned at briefing times of this happening and to be very vigile [sic].
If as on some raids we took off in daylight and was routed down country before turning to go over the coast en route to Germany a very keen watch was kept by the crews looking for other aircraft. Looking our one would see all around aircraft coming up from their airfields to join the Bomber stream. At times it was quite scarry.
Coming back from a raid one would be placed in what was called the circuit and told to fly at a certain height. Sort of stacked up. As each aircraft landed the others were lowered to a new height to circle.
Round each airfield there were tall posts erected in the country with a light on top forming a lighted circle. this was called the DREM lighting. At the end of the runway in use (landing end) the lights would form a funnel down which aircraft would fly bringing them in position correctly aligned. Just as a matter of interest, other lights positioned angled up told the pilot if he was too high or too low on his approach run.
Getting back to this particular crash both aircraft were lettered “K”.
The one from Pocklington (Your relative) was Halifax Mk II. No. LW333. Lettered DY-K. DY was for Pocklington aircraft.
The other one was from Elvington Halifax Mk II No LW264. Lettered KN-K. KN was for Elvington aircraft.
With so many airfields round here in Yorkshire during the war such a tragedy I suppose was sure to happen sometime.
As mentioned on the phone an account of Squadron losses is published in a book by Chris Goss called, “It’s Suicide But It’s Fun”. Published by Crecy Books Ltd.
Entry page 191.
22 Nov 43 Halifax Berlin. LW333 DY-K
Plt Off W. Hughes – P –
Sgt WW Cottle – N –
Sgt R A Dabnor – WOp –
Sgt R B Bainbridge – AG –
FS D Willington – AG –
Sgt J Boxall – E –
Sgt F T Dunn – B –
Collided with Halifax JDI46 of 77 Sqd. and crashed at Barmby Moor 2345 hrs. (Correction No. should be as above LW 264)
Cont.,
[Page Break]
[inserted] 2/ [/inserted]
Chris made one or two mistakes, reporting our loss he has got my initials wrong, Having me down as S.E. Adams instead of S.G. Also he has the account of me leaving the aircraft all wrong, which he said he would put right in any future additions.
The aircraft he has down JD146 according to the book called “The Halifax File” which shows what happened to every Halifax that was produced (An Air-Britain Publication) was a 10 Sqn. Melbourne aircraft entered as FTR. (Standing for Failed to return) Berlin 23-11-42.
The account in Halifax File of your relatives aeroplane Shows Page 87 LW333 102 Collided with Halifax LW264 in circuit after ops. Crashed at Barmby Moor, near Pocklington. and burnt. 22-11-43
Page 86 LW264 77 Collied with Halifax LW333 in circuit and crashed at Barmby Moor near Pocklington Ex ops, Berlin 22-11-43.
There is another book called, “War Diary of Pocklington (Just made a mistake that should read; R.A.F. Pocklington) By Mike Usherwood and published by Compaid Graphics, Cheshire.
Page 122.
[underlined] 22nd – 23rd November 1943 [/underlined]
Berlin. 24 aircraft. 7 returned early due to various causes. Oxygen trouble, engine failure, icing and difficulties with navigation equipment. In spite of the weather 10/10 cloud with tops to 10,000 ft. the ground markers could just be seen and this attack became the most devastating attack on Berlin of the whole war. It is described in the Operational Record books as a remarkable prang.
On return one aircraft collided with a No 77 Squadron (Elvington) aircraft killing both crews. Sgt Cottle, P/O Hughes, Sgts. Babner, Bainbridge, Boxall, [inserted] X [/inserted] [underlined] Dunn [/underlined] and F/S Wellington of 102 Squadron and F/S Lineham, F/S Godson, Sgts, West, Tweedle, Elder, Bennett and Thompson of No 77 Squadron. (Note two names differ.)
Should not copy from these books really but knowing both Chris and Mike, know they will not mind as its giving information to someone trying to trace what happened to a relative.
Do not know of or if there are any graves for the airmen in question, but the War graves Commission will [deleted] give [/deleted] be able to give you that information as will the Ministry of Defence.
War Graves Commission address; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead. Berkshire. SL6 7DX.
Ministry of Defence address; Air Historical Branch. AHB (RAF) & PCB (AIR) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. 3-5 Great Scotland Yard. London SW1A 2HW.
Recommend you try Ministry First. Give Name and initials also Service No if known. With Squadron and details of crash.
If there are no graves the names of all the airmen will be displayed on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey.
Our 102 Sqd, association presented St. Catherine’s Church Barmby Moor With a Book Roll of Honour of personnel who lost their lives. Your relatives name will be in it as it will be in the book of honour in York Minister.
Cannot find any more information for you, hope my little effort helps you in some way, to put you in the picture of what happened that fateful night. Will be asking another Gentleman I know who does a lot of researching of events on the Squadron but it will be quite a while before I see him. He was only a young lad when the war was on living in Barmby Moor always had his nose over the fence watching us taking off. He sure knows some stuff about the Squadron and the crews.
Although flying at the same time as your relative cannot recall him. We will have seen one another, maybe even spoke but with so short an acquantance [sic] and fifty-six years on impossible to remember. Next time I write to my Bomb Aimer in Canada will mention his name. Maybe with mixing more in the Bombing room and office he may recall him.
Really must close, Take care, stay healthy.
Yours Sincerely,
S.G. Adams,
(Stan.)
MR AND MRS S G ADAMS
[censored]
14th, June 1999.
Dear Miss Dunn, Rebecca)
Here as promised during our talk on the telephone is a photo-stat copy of the newspaper article giving details of the very sad event of the two Halifax aircraft which collided on the circuit of Pocklington airfield whilst preparing to land, resulting in the loss of life of both crews. Fourteen airmen which included your relative.
On that particular raid we developed engine trouble could not maintain height and was using too much fuel, which would very likely mean a ditching in the English Channel on our way home. Thats how our Engineer saw it after working out our fuel consumption. The skipper decided to abort the mission, seem to remember him saying later he was told he should have pressed on to the target.
After debriefing and something to eat we returned to our barracks which were behind the “Plough Inn” at Allerthorpe. Hearing the aircraft returning we went outside and stood on top of the mound of earth over the air raid shelter to watch them circling preparing to land.
Having witnessed the incident, it stays very vivid in my memory. It was obvious that two aircraft had crashed into one another and we said at the time “Poor lads doubt if any one would survive that. They would be chatting and thinking, thats another one over lets get down for those Bacon and Eggs, which by the way we always got on our return from operations.
It was always said, Danger was not over till one was sat in the mess. To comment further. Taking off and landing was always regarded as a dangerous time, not only for the action itself but for the danger of collision. With so many aircraft in the air in the same vicinity the chances were always great. Was warned at briefing times of this happening and to be very vigile [sic].
If as on some raids we took off in daylight and was routed down country before turning to go over the coast en route to Germany a very keen watch was kept by the crews looking for other aircraft. Looking our one would see all around aircraft coming up from their airfields to join the Bomber stream. At times it was quite scarry.
Coming back from a raid one would be placed in what was called the circuit and told to fly at a certain height. Sort of stacked up. As each aircraft landed the others were lowered to a new height to circle.
Round each airfield there were tall posts erected in the country with a light on top forming a lighted circle. this was called the DREM lighting. At the end of the runway in use (landing end) the lights would form a funnel down which aircraft would fly bringing them in position correctly aligned. Just as a matter of interest, other lights positioned angled up told the pilot if he was too high or too low on his approach run.
Getting back to this particular crash both aircraft were lettered “K”.
The one from Pocklington (Your relative) was Halifax Mk II. No. LW333. Lettered DY-K. DY was for Pocklington aircraft.
The other one was from Elvington Halifax Mk II No LW264. Lettered KN-K. KN was for Elvington aircraft.
With so many airfields round here in Yorkshire during the war such a tragedy I suppose was sure to happen sometime.
As mentioned on the phone an account of Squadron losses is published in a book by Chris Goss called, “It’s Suicide But It’s Fun”. Published by Crecy Books Ltd.
Entry page 191.
22 Nov 43 Halifax Berlin. LW333 DY-K
Plt Off W. Hughes – P –
Sgt WW Cottle – N –
Sgt R A Dabnor – WOp –
Sgt R B Bainbridge – AG –
FS D Willington – AG –
Sgt J Boxall – E –
Sgt F T Dunn – B –
Collided with Halifax JDI46 of 77 Sqd. and crashed at Barmby Moor 2345 hrs. (Correction No. should be as above LW 264)
Cont.,
[Page Break]
[inserted] 2/ [/inserted]
Chris made one or two mistakes, reporting our loss he has got my initials wrong, Having me down as S.E. Adams instead of S.G. Also he has the account of me leaving the aircraft all wrong, which he said he would put right in any future additions.
The aircraft he has down JD146 according to the book called “The Halifax File” which shows what happened to every Halifax that was produced (An Air-Britain Publication) was a 10 Sqn. Melbourne aircraft entered as FTR. (Standing for Failed to return) Berlin 23-11-42.
The account in Halifax File of your relatives aeroplane Shows Page 87 LW333 102 Collided with Halifax LW264 in circuit after ops. Crashed at Barmby Moor, near Pocklington. and burnt. 22-11-43
Page 86 LW264 77 Collied with Halifax LW333 in circuit and crashed at Barmby Moor near Pocklington Ex ops, Berlin 22-11-43.
There is another book called, “War Diary of Pocklington (Just made a mistake that should read; R.A.F. Pocklington) By Mike Usherwood and published by Compaid Graphics, Cheshire.
Page 122.
[underlined] 22nd – 23rd November 1943 [/underlined]
Berlin. 24 aircraft. 7 returned early due to various causes. Oxygen trouble, engine failure, icing and difficulties with navigation equipment. In spite of the weather 10/10 cloud with tops to 10,000 ft. the ground markers could just be seen and this attack became the most devastating attack on Berlin of the whole war. It is described in the Operational Record books as a remarkable prang.
On return one aircraft collided with a No 77 Squadron (Elvington) aircraft killing both crews. Sgt Cottle, P/O Hughes, Sgts. Babner, Bainbridge, Boxall, [inserted] X [/inserted] [underlined] Dunn [/underlined] and F/S Wellington of 102 Squadron and F/S Lineham, F/S Godson, Sgts, West, Tweedle, Elder, Bennett and Thompson of No 77 Squadron. (Note two names differ.)
Should not copy from these books really but knowing both Chris and Mike, know they will not mind as its giving information to someone trying to trace what happened to a relative.
Do not know of or if there are any graves for the airmen in question, but the War graves Commission will [deleted] give [/deleted] be able to give you that information as will the Ministry of Defence.
War Graves Commission address; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead. Berkshire. SL6 7DX.
Ministry of Defence address; Air Historical Branch. AHB (RAF) & PCB (AIR) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. 3-5 Great Scotland Yard. London SW1A 2HW.
Recommend you try Ministry First. Give Name and initials also Service No if known. With Squadron and details of crash.
If there are no graves the names of all the airmen will be displayed on the Runnymede Memorial Surrey.
Our 102 Sqd, association presented St. Catherine’s Church Barmby Moor With a Book Roll of Honour of personnel who lost their lives. Your relatives name will be in it as it will be in the book of honour in York Minister.
Cannot find any more information for you, hope my little effort helps you in some way, to put you in the picture of what happened that fateful night. Will be asking another Gentleman I know who does a lot of researching of events on the Squadron but it will be quite a while before I see him. He was only a young lad when the war was on living in Barmby Moor always had his nose over the fence watching us taking off. He sure knows some stuff about the Squadron and the crews.
Although flying at the same time as your relative cannot recall him. We will have seen one another, maybe even spoke but with so short an acquantance [sic] and fifty-six years on impossible to remember. Next time I write to my Bomb Aimer in Canada will mention his name. Maybe with mixing more in the Bombing room and office he may recall him.
Really must close, Take care, stay healthy.
Yours Sincerely,
S.G. Adams,
(Stan.)
Collection
Citation
S G Adams, “Letter from S G (Stan) Adams to Rebecca Dunn concerning the collision of two Halifax at RAF Pocklington,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed October 22, 2024, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/39902.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.