1 Aug 1942 - 103 Squadron Conversion Flight, RAF Elsham Wolds - Handley Page Halifax I - W1239 - Sgt W J Bagley RAFVR and crew - Training.
Approximate Location - Near RAF Elsham Wolds airfield
This was one of a series of bad crashes on or around RAF Elsham Wolds during WW2.
Halifax W1289 took off on an authorised flight with Sgt W J Bagley RAFVR pilot ( pictured below ) and another eleven airmen on board. They were to climb to 17,000 ft and remained at that altitude for 30 mins. After an hour the aircraft was seen in the vicinity of the airfield making an approach down wind with smoke trailing from the port mainplane. About a quarter of a mile from the airfield the port wing dropped and the aircraft spun into the ground from about 400 or 500 feet. All twelve airmen on board were killed.
Sgt W J Bagley RAFVR
The full list of the deceased is shown below.
Sgt William John Bagley RAFVR – Pilot - 19 – 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Oliver John and Florence Mary Bagley, of Llanfihangel Talyllyn - Brecon St David Churchyard Brecon Wales
Sgt Alexander Edward Finney RAFVR - Observer – 27 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Thomas and Ida Mary Ethel Finney, of Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent; husband of Freda Finney, of Dresden. Stoke-on-Trent - Brigg Cemetery North Lincolnshire
Sgt Joseph Arthur Henson RAFVR - Flight Engineer - 20 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Sidney and Minnie Coe, of All Saints, King's Lynn, Norfolk – Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire.
Sgt James William Keane RNZAF - Observer - 20 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Thomas Byron Keene and of Kathleen Helena Keene (nee McGrath), of Waimati South, Canterbury, New Zealand. Waimati South, Canterbury, New Zealand - Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire
Sgt Christopher Hubert Morgan RAFVR – Air Gunner - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire
P/O Alexander Simons RAFVR - Bomb Aimer/Air Gunner – 33 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Bedford, Bedfordshire - Brigg Cemetery, North Lincolnshire
Sgt Squire Lightowler RAFVR - Pilot -22 – 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Alfred and Lily Jane Lightowler, of Oakenshaw. Bradford, Yorks. - Low Moor Holy Trinity Churchyard, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Sgt Leslie Joseph Langan RAFVR - Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner - 22 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Henry Charles Robert and Rhoda Langan, of Palmers Green, London - Tottenham Cemetery, Middlesex.
Sgt Thomas Lindsey McDonald RAFVR - Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner - 29 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of William McFarlane McDonald and Mary McDonald; husband of Florence McDonald, of Aston Manor, Birmingham. - Birmingham Witton Cemetery, Warwickshire
Sgt TW Dinsdale RAF – Air Gunner - 23 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of Richard and Mary Dinsdale, of Scotland Gate, Choppington, Northumberland - Choppington St Paul Churchyard, Northumberland.
Sgt Owen Douglas Hancock RAFVR – Observer - 22 - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Son of George and Florence Hancock; husband of Rosina Grace Hancock. of Southampton. - West End St James Churchyard, Hampshire
Sgt John Munro RAFVR – Observer - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - Glasgow Riddrie Park Cemetery, Scotland.
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Investigation at the scene of the crash revealed that the port outer engine had been torn from its attachments and rolled clear of the fire. It was apparent from external examination that there had been a coolant leak during the flight but it was not possible to establish the exact nature of the failure.
The Accident Investigation Branch concluded that the accident was due to the aircraft stalling at low level when the pilot was attempting a forced landing after failure of the port outer engine. This failure was due to an unspecified coolant loss. At the time of the accident Sgt Bagley had solo flying time of 150 hours including 9 hours 45 mins on Halifax aircraft.
Sgt Bagley’s coffin was brought home under escort draped in a Union Jack and bearing three wreaths from the C.O., N.C.Os and other members of the Elsham Wolds personnel. His funeral at St. David's Churchyard, Llanfaes, Brecon was attended by a large number of mourners and he was laid to rest in the family grave.
Amongst those who died in this tragic incident was another pilot, Sgt Squire Lightowler ( pictured below ). Squire was buried at Holy Trinity, Low Moor, Bradford.
Sgt S Lightowler RAFVR
The remains of some of those killed were returned to their families to be buried locally and the others were interred at Brigg Cemetery.
Footnote - A postscript to this affair concerns the involvement of the local police constable in the village of Elsham -Herbert Sanderson. He was a well known local character and still remembered in the area. Herbert and his wife lived in a cottage quite near the crash site. On hearing the explosion he ran across the fields and was one of the first on the scene. He did what he could but clearly it was a hopeless situation. G/C Constantine contacted the local Chief Constable and informed him of Herbert’s valiant efforts and he was awarded a special commendation.
Two airmen from Elsham Wolds who were quickly on the scene and also attempted rescues were awarded mentions in dispatches on the recommendation of G/C Constantine.
Written by David Fell with thanks to the Bagley and Lightowler families
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