Re: 78 SQN RAF Loss of Halifax III MZ311 on Cleeve Hill Gloucecstershire 26 AUG 44
Cris
Ancestry.co.uk has the Service Files for the Canadian crew members.
Howes' file records include Form 765, which has the following:
Report by S/Ldr. Harris E. N. No. 3 G.T.S. who visited the scene of the crash.
The aircraft crashed at 02.20 hours into a grass bank at the egde of a quarry on a hill about 1,000 feet high. At the time, the top of the hill was ocvered by low stratus cloud, but it is not thought that this cloud was general. The aircraft approached the hill from the North. From the appearance of the engines (the reduction gear casing on at least three engines had sheared) it would appear that they were running normally. The Navigator's log shows an entry at 02.03 hours and he seemed to know his position. The aircraft was then flying North North East according to the log. The Wireless Operator's logo is completed up to 02.10 hrs. No mention is made in either log of any trouble. It is considered that the aircraft was flying level at the time of the crash.
It also includes excerpts from Form 412 (Proceeds of Court of Inquiry or Investigation). F/Lt. Howes flying experience is recorded as:
No. 11 E.F.T.S. Cap. Nad.
No 5 S.F.T.S.
No 18 (P) A.F.U.
No. 23 O.T.U.
1666 H.C.U.
To 78 Sqn April 4th 1944
The crash site is recorded as 51º 57' N 02º 03' W (approx). The report also has:
From the Navigator's logo book they appear to have been heading for Pershore aerodrome and as this place was covered by cloud, they seem to have been doing an erratic descent and to have crashed into high ground.
Remarks by Group Commander [C. R. Carr, AVM]
The cause of the accident remains obscure. It is noticed that all the petrol tank balance cocks were in the 'On' position. Thus, if all engine were being run off one tank and this ran dry, a cutting of the engines would have resulted.
Remarks by Station Commander [H. V. Satterly, A/Cdre]
Owing to the limited evidence, ay suggestion of the cause of the accident must be surmise. The crew was above average, and it seems most unlikely that they attempted to break the low cloud without some reason. It may have been engine failure, but the absence of distress signals makes this seem unlikely, althought the fact that the Flight Engineer's log finishes at 00.58 may have some significance. Similarly the apparent error in the Navigator's log [not included in the report] are difficult to explain unless one assumes the crew were in difficulty. To sum up, I consider the cause of the accident must inevitably remain obscure.
Regards
Simon
Researching R.A.F. personnel from the North East of England
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