Background,

Enlisted at Padgate

Training

No. 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit, Rufforth

Service

Posted to No. 158 Squadron at Lissett 22/7/43

Flew as Rear Gunner to F/O. R.W. Buckland on Operations to

25/7/43 - Essen

On approach to the airfield, the aircraft entered a flat spin at low level and crashed into the courtyard of Millingdale House Farm, Lowthorpe and caught fire. People living at the farm made desperate attempts to rescue the crew trapped in the wreckage, but were defeated by the heat and the fact that ammunition was ‘cooking off’ and striking the walls of nearby buildings. At the investigation that followed, it was determined that the most likely cause of the accident was that the flight engineer had switched to an empty fuel tank which caused one or more engines to cut thus inducing the spin from which the pilot was unable to recover. All on board were killed.

Decorations

None

Promotions

Sgt.