Handley Page Halifax B/Met Mk V Series 1a Serial LK743 (NF-J) Crash 8th January 1944. (2 Viewers)

[Roger Freeman]

As the relative (now living in South Australia) of one of the crew of H.P. Halifax B/Met Mk V Series 1a Serial LK747 (NF-J) of 138 Squadron (Special Duties) based at RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire I am researching the crash of the aircraft in England on the 8th January 1944.
All seven of the crew were killed in the crash plus three SOE agents. The aircraft was piloted by Warrant Officer H M Kennedy and was returning from a SOE operation over Belgium where around 2230hr a fault in the port outer engine occurred resulting in the engine either failing or being shut down, the pilot/engineer was unable to feather the port outer propeller causing heavy yaw/roll to port. Upon returning to RAF Tempsford the aircraft started to complete a left-hand circuit to try and land on Tempsford's main runway 24 from a SE approach. The aircraft was in the vicinity of the village of Waresley flying past 'Low Farm' just to the west of the village when at 0115hr it crashed at 'Tetworth Hill' Bedfordshire (actually Weaveley Wood). At this point the aircraft was flying so low that it hit the trees at the side of Weaveley Wood prior to hitting the ground and catching fire.

I already have the RAF/AM Form 1180 Accident Record Card, Form A.M.78 Aircraft Movement Card and the AM Accident File 412479 for LK747.

Any additional information on the aircraft or the circumstances of the actual aircraft crash location would be most welcome.

N.B. The crash should not be confused with the crash of Mosquito Mk VI Serial HX972 at 'Tetworth Hall' farm cottages five months later on the 28th May 1944.

 

[JDCAVE]

I cannot help you with this specific aircraft. However, the Halifax V was a horrible aircraft, at least according to my father. Under-powered, atrocious handling characteristics. Problems with the rudders. In his view, they were dangerous. Dad wasn't alone with this opinion. The problems with the Halifax IIs and Vs are well reviewed in the records by the Operational Research Section of Bomber Command.

Jim

 

[Roger Freeman]

I am looking for specific manufacturing details, including batch delivery dates, modification details etc for the above aircraft (Halifax LK743) that crashed at Tetworth Hill, Bedfordshire on the night of the 8th January 1944.
I already have all the relevant crash and casualty details currently available. including MOD accident and casualty reports

I so far understand the following manufacturing details of the aircraft :

Built by Fairy Aviation Co Ltd Stockport Factory probably in late 1943 to AM/RAF Contract A/C891.
Handly Page Type designation HP63.
Delivered to RAF 138 Special Duties Squadron at RAF Tempsford 4th January 1944.

The aircraft crashed on the 8th January 1944 ('Cat E". Crash remains recovered by RAF 54MU Cambridge).

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

RAF Contract Cards LK743 Halifax V, allocated to 138 squadron, allotment number 6309, delivered 4 January 1944, counted as January production, part of contract 891/SAS/C4C built by Fairey. Original Requisition 1/E1/41 but other requisitions made against the order, which ultimately became for 1,030 aircraft

RAF Serial Registers, Taken On Charge 4 January 1944, Category E 8 January 1944

https://www.lancasterbombers.net/form-78-aircraft-movement-cards-2-2/halifax-11/

LK703 - LK784 file, page 40. Merlin XX engines, Halifax V, to 138 squadron 4 January 1944, Category E burnt out 8 January 1944.