Further detailed information on this loss is as follows
On 24 Aug 1943, 78 Sqn were among many units of Bomber Command detailed to attack Berlin. This raid saw 78 Sqn suffer one of its worst nights of the war (albeit not the worst!!) Two Halifax were shot over Europe and a third ditched in the North Sea on its return flight. As the rest of the Sqn approached the Humber Estuary poor visibility at their home base of Breighton led to all remaining 78 Sqn aircraft being ordered to divert to nearby Leconfield. Tragically whilst awaiting their turn to land, two further Halifax collided and crashed at Hull Bridge nr Tickton at 0430 with the loss of 14 crew. There was one survivor
The two aircraft involved were;
BB373 EY~K "Rothman K~King" (All crew killed)
Pilot Sgt G.G. Bell RNZAF
2nd (U/T) Pilot F/Sgt R.R. Gilbert
Flight Engineer Sgt A.E. Lester
Navigator P/O E. Platt
Bomb Aimer Sgt W.L. Clarke
Wireless Operator Sgt A. Lee
Mid Upper Gunner Sgt D.C.M. Walton RAAF
Rear Gunner Sgt R.B. Fletcher
JB874 EY~E "Rothman E~Easy" (One survivor)
Pilot F/O C.J. Keirl +
Flight Engineer Sgt E.B.F. Scorey +
Navigator F/O H.W. Baylis +
Bomb Aimer Sgt H.R. Jones +
Wireless Operator Sgt C.H. Hilton +
Mid Upper Gunner Sgt F. Roberts +
Rear Gunner Sgt J. Greet Seriously Injured
Sgt Greet was admitted to Beverley Base Hospital, suffering from fractures to the base of the skull and right femur. So serious were these injuries that nearly five years were to pass before he had fully recovered. When their daughter was born Sgt Greet and his wife christened her ~ Beverley!
I am in contact with a lady who lives in nearby Beverley. Despite having no connection with either Bomber Command or 78 Sqn, every year on 24th August, she places flowers on the grave of F/O Kierl who lies in Beverley Cemetery in a extremely kind gesture of remembrance
The memorial was dedicated and unveiled on the 24th August 2013 - 70 years to the day since the tragedy occurred
78 Sqn personnel were in attendance for the dedication as was a relative of F/Sgt Gilbert the u/t pilot on BB373 EY~K "Rothman K~King"
Hope this is of interest
Rgds
Halifaxman
"Nemo Non Paratus" ~ Nobody Unprepared
78 Sqn motto
