16/17 December 1943 - 100 Squadron, RAF Waltham – Avro Lancaster III - JB596 - F/O Robert L Proudfoot RAFVR
Location – At Hatfield Top approx 2 miles west south west of Waltham airfield
JB596, which had sustained some flak damage during the operation, crashed south west of the airfield near Hatcliffe Top in poor visibility due to extensive fog. Four of the crew including the pilot were killed. The other three were badly injured .These were Phillips and Taylor and the navigator Les Noyes who returned to the Squadron but never flew operationally again. The survivors were pulled from the wreckage by a passing off duty fireman and two local farm workers.
After a period in hospital both Taylor and Phillips returned to 100 Squadron and completed their tours. Both went on to serve together with Peter Sleight at 576 Squadron and then 101 Squadron in 1945.
F/O Robert Laval Proudfoot RAFVR – Pilot – 24 – 100 Sqn - Son of Charles Laval Proudfoot and Margaret Rose Proudfoot Husband of Mary Willmott Proudfoot, of Brentwood - Orsett (St. Giles and All Saints) Churchyard, Essex.
Sgt Sidney David Viggers RAFVR – Flight Engineer – 100 Sqn - Son of Mr. And Mrs. S T Viggers, of Adeline Street, Splott, Cardiff - Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff, Wales
Sgt John Bamford RAFVR – Air Bomber – 100 Sqn - Stapleford Cemetery, Nottinghamshire
Sgt Bernard Heaton RAFVR – 21 – Wireless operator - 100 Sqn - Nephew of Wilfred Heaton, of Crigglestone - Crigglestone Cemetery, Wakefield, Yorkshire
Sgt Leslie Noyes RAFVR – Navigator – 100 Sqn – Seriously injured
Sgt Bernard Phillips RAFVR – Air Gunner - 100 Sqn – Seriously Injured
Sgt Frederick H Taylor RAFVR - Air Gunner - 100 Sqn – Seriously Injured
Compiled by David Fell. Photo from my archive
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