100 Squadron crew

[greg]

No problem at all Peter, I look forward to hearing from you :-)

L/O

Greg

[Irene Wainwright]

Crew of Lancaster JB 596

Hi Greg,
My grandson whilst going through my old photographs came across my cousin Bernard Heaton who was killed in the crash on 16^th December 1943.
Since seeing the photograph he has become very interested and has started to do
some research.

Bernard Heaton 1456983

Bernard was born in the village of Crigglestone Wakefield West Yorkshire about a mile from my present home and is buried in Crigglestone Cemetry.
I would really appreciate any help you could give us.

Kind regards
Irene Wainwright

[Irene Wainwright]

Hi Peter,
My grandson whilst going through my old photographs came across my cousin Bernard Heaton who was killed in the crash on 16^th December 1943.
Since seeing the photograph he has become very interested and has started to do
some research.

Bernard Heaton 1456983

Bernard was born in the village of Crigglestone Wakefield West Yorkshire about a mile from my present home and is buried in Crigglestone Cemetry.
I would really appreciate any help you could give us.

Kind regards
Irene Wainwright

[John Williams]

Hi Irene,

They took off in JB596 at 16.18hrs to bomb Berlin and was the first aircraft to return at 23.00hrs. Eye witness reports just prior to the crash they heard the sound of an aircraft flying low overhead coming from the direction of Waltham, the pilot probably doing a left hand circuit to line up with the runway. Following the crash it was thought that the altimeter might have been faulty, for if he had been flying 30 feet higher he would have cleared the trees.
The aircraft hit the ground some 300 yards from the road and ploughed through earth and trees for over a quarter of a mile. It’s starboard wing scraped the roof off a farm cottage.
There is more in a book called ‘Black night for Bomber Command’. The tragedy of 16 December 1943. By Richard Knott.

Your cousin gets a couple of mentions in the book.

Cheers,

John.

[fredsson]

Hi Irene.. My father trained with, and flew with Bernard Heaton. I have a little information about your cousin, and I would like to help as much as I can. Please can you PM me so that I can email you?

Peter