Halifax Crew crash near Colchester 25th February 1943

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by STAN50, Feb 13, 2018.

  1. AlanW

    AlanW Senior Member

    It just goes to show that then, as today, you cannot believe everything you read in a newspaper. Over 250hrs of combat flying it states, well i have traced his movements via his service file and ORB's, and i would like to know how this newspaper can fit over 250hrs of combat flying, into the one operational flight he made before being lost on 25/26th Feb. His only other operational flight was on 18th Feb 43, to Wilhelmshaven, after being posted in to 102sqdn from a CU on 1st Feb. A little over the top with the propaganda methinks.......
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2018
  2. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Today I've managed to obtain the 1943 Police reports about the crash. I have to write in regarding copyright laws before I put them out in the public domain i.e. on here.

    There is also a another extremely interesting document which is day to day diary written by a local man. This covers the crash in fine detail. It is a remarkable piece of writing which I hope to share with you if I get permission.

    We also are very close to connecting with family of Thomas Barfoot and I have spoken to a relative of Irving Sanitsky.

    Regarding the newspaper article about Irving Sanitsky, we might find out more as progress. Newspapers I agree don't always get it right.

    But even if this record of shooting down these X 5 German aircraft is incorrect, the man gave his life trying to make the world a better place for us. I'm sure you'll all agree that we can all sit here at our comfortable PC's considerable years later because young lads went to war for us. I'm always conscious of that. But yes, we need to get things as accurate as we can.

    But all in all, a good days research for me.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  3. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Only a few more days till the 75th anniversary - any plans?
     
  4. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    When I started this I realised how close the date of the anniversary would be. As yet though we don't know the exact location of the crash site. However, my friend helping me with this is soon to meet up with the local archivist in Ardleigh and discuss the contents of the diary. This is a very informative report and it mentions farms and other dwellings.

    Does anyone on here know about Police Reports in the 1940's? Some of the one's I found have map references but they don't seem to tie up with the Badliss Hall Farm area.

    I have also made just made contact with one more relative who I am about to reply to this morning. I believe he knows where the crash site is. This may solve these issues, we'll see.

    It would be nice if we could put some Remembrance Crosses down at the area this happened, and mark the day. I'm hopeful we can do that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  5. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Were there any wartime airfield nearby?
    Perhaps they were trying to make a landing approach, if there was an airfield near the crash site.
    Any airfield locally, private, farm etc might know a potential crash site, crop marks etc.
    Perhaps for the moment a road junction "somewhere between Home and Badliss Farms" might be the best for a token memorial/poppies, and possibly a local could get in touch with better info...
     
  6. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Obviously enquiries are on going. I'm waiting for a local church to put something in their weekly newsletter and there is another article that may appear locally.

    Once my friend and the archivist have discussed the diary together we may discover the location. The third relative we've found may also help.

    And yes, USAAF Boxted was not far away.
     
  7. Jon Dudley

    Jon Dudley New Member

    This is very interesting. Having vainly attempted to visit the farm and crash site I did at least leave a wreath and memorial note comemmorating the sad death of my uncle John Dudley and the crew of the Halifax.
     
  8. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Hello Jon, thank you for your e-mail which Simon and I will respond to.


    At this point I must thank the members on here again for their input:
    Kevin Battle, harkness, CL1, amberdog45 and Pat Atkins.

    Also thanks to Jon Larder at the Yorkshire Air Museum who is monitoring this thread and has provided a great deal of information.
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2018
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  9. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Newspaper article Simon found for Jon Dudley
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 22, 2018
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  10. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    The crash site was over a large area which we now have a rough idea where this was. Another local is being consulted and we're awaiting contact from him. This is someone related to the landowner.
     
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  11. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Here are some of the 1943 Police Reports, reproduced here word for word. Note in the first one the location is misspelt. (Ardley should be Ardleigh).

    25.2.43 Time of which receipt or despatch of message was completed 21.10

    'Crashed Aircraft'
    At Badliss Hall Farm, Ardley Tendring sub area. M. Ref 517480.
    Time of crash 2025. Condition of crew not known. Nationality not known but believed British.

    Time of origin of message 2100 Sgd by AJB.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
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  12. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    25.2.43 Time of which receipt or despatch of message was completed 22.09

    Reference my crashed aircraft report of 21.00 hrs Stop Location of crash now confirned by Police as Home Farm Ardleigh. Map Ref. 512480 Stop
    Plane blown to pieces forming a crater 30 yards diameter and 8 feet deep. Stop
    Only parts of bodies found Stop Damage by fire to two straw stacks.

    Time of origin of message 22.00 AJB
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
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  13. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    26.2.43 (wrong day) Time of which receipt or despatch of message was complete 22.52

    Reference my 21.00 hrs + 22.00
    Badliss Hall + surrounding farm buildings damaged by fire and fragments of aircraft. Fire now under control.

    Time of origin of message 22.45
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
  14. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    26.2.43 Time of which receipt or despatch of message was completed 00.05

    Ref my report of 21.00 and 22.00 and 22.45
    A bomb from the plane exploded at 21.55 causing very slight injuries to 2 firmen. Plane identified as British Halifax bomber.

    Time of origin of message 23.59
     
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  15. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    I visited the area earlier today and having spoken to a resident I've had the general area of the crash site pointed out to me. It would still be good if we could say precisely where.



    I learnt of another crash in the same area ? date when a Spitfire Pilot mistook green houses for a landing strip apparently. The locals later emptied fuel from the plane and tried to use it in farm equipment. This didn't bode well for the health of the agricultural engines.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
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  16. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    Without finding the map that the reference refers to, then between Home Farm and Badliss Hall would seem to be the "best" for now.
    If the Hall and farm buildings were damaged by the fire (if not the explosion) then it must have been pretty close.
    Perhaps there may be some evidence in damaged brickwork, repairs etc still evident that would point out the direction of the blast.
     
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  17. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Two more things have occurred this evening. The local archivist has provided me with a marked map originating from the son of the then land owners. This pretty much concurs with what I learnt earlier today. So I'm confident we have more or less the location solved. I will seek out the land owners to see if it's possible to visit that area.

    Tonight we have made contact with the Flight Engineers' family.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2018
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  18. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    Having re visited the area today here are some images of the crash site. Hopefully we will gain permission to go on the land and capture some different angles.

    Two images show either sides of a track. We think the crash site is half way along.
    This image was taken leading away from Home Farm and Home Farm Lane.

    The other image (poles in foreground) was also taken from Home Farm Lane, but slightly further down towards Badliss Hall Lane. The crash site in this will be to the extreme left of frame.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 25, 2018
  19. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    :flaguk:Having made contact with the Flight Engineer's son Robert, he kindly has allowed us to show a picture of his father on here. This is Leonard Leslie Widgery.


    The crash site area is owned by two different land owners. We have now established permission to visit both parts. I'll add some more images later on.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
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  20. STAN50

    STAN50 Senior Member

    A reply to my enquiry from the Royal Air Force Historical Branch today:


    'Records held in AHB, show that Handley Page Halifax Mk II Serial No DT800, aircraft code DY-P of 102 Squadron, then based at RAF Pocklington, Yorkshire, took off at 19.20 hrs to take part on a raid to Nuremberg. The aircraft encountered severe weather in flight and crashed after one hour and four minutes at Badliss Hall Farm, Nr Ardleigh, 4 Miles NE of Colchester at 2024Hrs. Witnesses reports state that aircraft dived to ground with engines running. The aircraft broke up completely on impact with the loss of all the crew. Approximately, half an hour after the crash, the 1000 lb bomb which the aircraft was carrying, exploded.'


    'The crash investigation stated that whilst the cause was not fully established it was probably due to loss of control in bad weather conditions.'
     
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