Sgt W J Bagley RAFVR - 103 Sqn Conversion Flight - 1942.
John Bagley ( Pictured above ) was the pilot of the Halifax II R 9379 103 Squadron Heavy Conversion Flight which crashed at Elsham Wolds on Saturday August 1st 1942, killing all on board. He was 19 years of age. He was the only son and child of P.C. and Mrs O.J. Bagley of Llanfhangel Talyllyn, Breconshire, Wales.
After gaining his School Certificate at the County School for Boys, Brecon, John volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force when only 18 years of age and may well have been younger. He earned his wings in January 1942 and was promoted Sgt. At that time he is thought to have been one of the youngest Sgt pilots in the Royal Air Force and may well have enlisted underage.
Whilst at 12 OTU John Bagley and his crew had participated in the second Thousand Bomber Raid on Bremen on the 25/26 June 1942 flying Wellington Z8800. Their aircraft was hit by flak which damaged the fuel tanks and they were forced to ditch when some 25 miles off Cromer, Norfolk and were later all picked up unharmed by a minesweeper. This was clearly a good show by a novice pilot and crew.
He returned home on 9 days leave and was then posted to 103 Sq Conversion Flight at Elsham Wolds.
John took off in Halifax W1289 on an authorised flight on the 1st August 1942 with 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.
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.
John Bagley had solo flying time of 150 hours including 9 hours 45 mins on Halifax aircraft.
John’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.
The remains of some of those killed were returned to their families to be buried locally and the others were interred at Brigg Cemetery.
The full list of the Deceased is shown below.
Sgt William John Bagley RAFVR – Pilot - 19 – 103 Sqn - Son of Oliver John and Florence Mary Bagley of Llanfihangel Talyllyn, Brecon - Brecon St David Churchyard
Sgt Alexander Edward Finney RAFVR – Observer - 27 – 103 Sqn - Son of Thomas and Ida Mary Ethel Finney, of Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent; husband of Freda Finney, of Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent - Brigg Cemetery
Sgt Joseph Arthur Henson RAFVR – Flight Engineer - 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Sidney and Minnie Coe of All Saints, King's Lynn, Norfolk - Brigg Cemetery
Sgt James William Keane RNZAF – Observer - 20 – 103 Sqn - Son of Thomas Byron Keene and of Kathleen Helena Keene (nee McGrath) of Waimati South, Canterbury, New Zealand - Brigg Cemetery
Sgt Christopher Hubert Morgan RAFVR – Air Gunner - 103 Sqn - Brigg Cemetery
P/O Alexander Simons RAFVR – Bomber Aimer/Air Gunner - 33 - 103 Sqn - Bedford, Bedfordshire - Brigg Cemetery
Sgt Squire Lightowler RAFVR – Pilot - 22 - 103 Sqn - Son of Alfred and Lily Jane Lightowler of Oakenshaw, Bradford, Yorks - Low Moor Holy Trinity Churchyard, Bradford.
Sgt Leslie Joseph Langan RAFVR – Wireless/Operator / Air Gunner - 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of Henry Charles Robert and Rhoda Langan of Palmers Green, London - Tottenham Cemetery
Sgt Thomas Lindsay McDonald RAFVR – Wireless/Operator / Air Gunner - 29 – 103 Sqn - Son of William McFarlane McDonald and Mary McDonald; husband of Florence McDonald of Aston Manor, Birmingham - Birmingham Witton Cemetery
Sgt Thomas William Dinsdale RAF – Air Gunner - 23 – 103 Sqn - Son of Richard and Mary Dinsdale of Scotland Gate, Choppington, Northumberland - Choppington St Paul Churchyard
Sgt Owen Douglas Hancock RAFVR – Observer - 22 – 103 Sqn - Son of George and Florence Hancock; husband of Rosina Grace Hancock Southampton - West End St James Churchyard
Sgt John Munro RAFVR – Observer – 103 Sqn - Glasgow - Riddrie Park Cemetery
Written by David Fell. Thanks to the Bagley and Lightowler families for info and photos.
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