F/S Stewart W Stockford RAFVR - 103 Squadron Conversion Flight - RAF Elsham Wolds - 1942.
Killed in training accident - 28th July 1942 - Handley Page Halifax II - W1218.
Stewart Stockford was posted to 103 Squadron Conversion Flight in July 1942 at the time 103 Squadron were converting from Vickers Wellingtons to the new Handley Page Hampden. This crew were killed in an accident during the early stages of their training and flew no operations.
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F/S Stewart William Stockford RAFVR – Pilot – 103 Sqn - Manby St Mary Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Sgt Leonard Joseph Storey RAF – Flight Engineer - 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Frederick A. Storey and Ethel Storey, of Folkestone - Hawkinge Cemetery, Kent.
F/S William John Birmingham RAAF – Observer - 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of Herbert E. Birmingham and Dorothy A. Birmingham of Dwellingup, Western Australia - Manby St Mary Churchyard
F/S Alexander Francis Pearson RCAF ( pictured below ) – Observer - Manby St Mary Churchyard, Lincolnshire
F/S Stanley Norman Ryder RAF ( pictured below ) – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 25 – 103 Sqn - Son of Samuel and Martha Amelia Ryder of Liverpool - Liverpool Anfield Cemetery, Lancashire.
F/S Francis Leon Joseph Hartnett RCAF – Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - 21 – 103 Sqn - Son of Edward James Hartnett, and of Helena Catherine Hartnett (nee Sweeney) of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada - Manby St Mary Churchyard, Lincolnshire
Sgt Douglas Charles Cochrane RAFVR – Air Gunner - 103 Sqn - Son of Charles Henry and Elsie Dorothy Cochrane of Tolworth - Long Ditton St Mary Churchyard, Surrey.
F/S Alexander Francis Pearson RCAF
F/S Stanley Norman Ryder RAF
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Halifax W1218 took off on the 28th July 1942, detailed to carry out air to sea firing practice during which the pilot was instructed to carry out a normal petrol tank change during flight if necessary. During the exercise the aircraft stalled and spun in and crashed at Cold Harbour Farm near Louth, Lincolnshire. All the crew were killed. A Court of Inquiry found that the cause of the accident was loss of control through stalling in a steep turn at a low altitude of 1000 feet.
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Stanley N Ryder may have been the Sgt N Ryder who was injured in a crash on the 31st May 1942 with Sgt Flowers and crew.
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Halifax W1218
This machine flew no operations with 103 Squadron.
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Stockford grave
Birmingham grave
Pearson grave
Hartnett grave
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Compiled by David Fell. Photo from Canadian Virtual War Museum. Stanley Ryder photo courtesy of Robert Kennedy. Others from my own archive
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