Operation: Air Test

Date: 25th June 1945 (Monday)

Unit No: 199 Squadron, 100 Group

Type: Halifax III

Serial: NA259

Code: EX:?

Base: RAF North Creake, Norfolk (Wells-Next-To-The-sea)

Location: Cromer Cliffs, Norfolk

Pilot: WO. Ian Wilshire Dent 432360 RAAF Age 23. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Raymond Ernest George Seymour 1851223 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Sgt. William 'Billy' Way 1302052 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. Andrew Mill Adams 2218925 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On this date the war in Europe was over, but still many accidents were taking place for various reasons, most causes were blamed on the crews

Halifax NA259 had taken off at 14:58 hrs and had only been airborne for about 10 minutes prior to the accident.

The aircraft was observed flying at around 1000 ft and turning inland towards Cromer. The pilot was having problems with the engines and it seemed that he was going to try and make a forced landing on the beach at Cromer. When, at the last moment he must have noticed many people on the beach and then tried to turn away.

Sadly the wing tip struck the cliffs at around 15:10 hrs and the aircraft burst into flames crashing at the foot of the high cliffs.

USAAF Sgt. Vane Neville Leon Glendening, 35390736, and his English wife, Dorothy, who were on the beach at this time and just yards from the impact, suffered shock and minor burns and taken to Cromer hospital for treatment from which they recovered. Due to the area of the crash (as can be seen by the photographs) the local fire brigade had to be lowered down the cliffs to deal with the fire - it was an hour before the flames were finally extinguished.

Eye witness reports stated that on the approach to the beach the aircraft seemed to have all engines throttled back and that smoke was seen to be coming from both outer engines. Later court of enquiry concluded that their had indeed been a ‘problem’ with the aircraft and that the crew had tried to avoid further loss of life on the ground with their manoeuvres. There had been no survivors, the fire totally destroyed the aircraft so no cause to the accident can be established.

Local newspaper reports also stated that from eye witness reports it was clear that the crew were trying to avoid further loss of life on the ground.

The pilot, it was revealed had disregarded his briefing by flying at low level but the Flight Commander was also disciplined for his poor level of supervision. It would seem however that a greater loss of life was saved with the actions of the pilot and his crew, to their cost.

It should be noted that thousands of aircrew died during training - both during the war years and months that followed - sadly, many of these are not recorded online, which is why we place pages such as these.

Burial details:

WO. Ian Wilshire Dent. Cambridge City Cemetery. Grave 15706. Inscription: 'DEEP IN OUR HEARTS WE KEEP HIS MEMORY. LOVABLE AND GALLANT’. Born on the 11th September 1921 at Ashfield, NSW. the son of Leslie Norman and Dora Estelle Dent, of 71 Redmire Street, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia.

WO. Dent's funeral was arranged for 14:00 hrs on the 29th June 1945

Sgt. Raymond Ernest George Seymour. Reading Cemetery (Henley Road). Block 5. Grave 9694. A birth certificate for a Raymond E.G. Seymour has his birth registered in the 1st Qtr of 1924 in Reading. Berkshire. His mother’s maiden name was Tugwell. Born His probate record has his abode as 31 Surrey Road, Reading at the time. He left effects to a Henry Ernest Seymour.

The circumstantial evidence, although not corroborated, points to him being the only son of Henry Ernest and Florence Adelaide (née Tugwell) Seymour of Reading Berkshire. His mother predeceased him in 1926.

Sgt. William 'Billy' Way. Morden Cemetery. Sec. R. Grave 811. Inscription: 'IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY BELOVED SON BILLY WHO, WITH HIS GALLANT CREW, DIED THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE'. Son of William Henry Way, and of Jeanne Marie Way, of Morden, Surrey, England.

Sgt. Andrew Mill Adams. Wells-Next-To-The-Sea Cemetery. Grave 376. Inscription: 'GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN'. Son of Samuel and Jessie R. M. Adams, of Davidson's Mains, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Apr 2017). Thanks to Nicholas N. Glendening for the correction to his grandfather's name. (Jun 2023). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2023).

Other sources listed below:

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