Operation: Sterkrade, Germany

Date: 21st/22nd November 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 78 Squadron, 4 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ810

Code: EY:F

Base: RAF Breighton, Yorkshire

Location: Spaldington bombing range, Yorkshire

Pilot: Flt Lt. Malcolm Stjernqvist Buchanan DFC 414641 RAAF Age 31. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Robert James Barron 1822881 RAFVR Age 27. KiA

Nav: Flt Lt. Wilbert James Robertson J20244 RCAF Age 25. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Flt Sgt. Lawrence Albert Welsh R155652 RCAF Age 20. KiA (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. James Hedley Rice 185745 RAFVR Age 34. KiA

Air/Gnr (Mid Upp): Plt Off. James McCannon 184087 RAFVR Age 23. KiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Plt Off. James Vincent Reddington 187488 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Above: Photograph of the crew of Halifax MZ788 EY:F: Left to right: Fg Off. Malcolm S. Buchanan, Fg Off. Donald F. Rayment, Sgt. William J. Bailey, Plt Off. John R. Harmer, Sgt. James H. Rice, Sgt. James McCannon and Flt Sgt. Alistair L. Mackenzie (courtesy of Bev Goodall)

Above left and middle: Flt Lt. Buchanan, AC. Buchanan (courtesy Goodall family), right: Flt Lt. Robertson (from his service record)

Friends and relatives of this crew travelled over from Australia to England in May 2013. They have compiled a book of letters which they presented to Aircrew Remembered for their part in the research of this loss.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Breighton, Yorkshire at 17.21 hrs to attack the synthetic oil refinery. The operation was not a success although some local barracks were damaged. Two Hundred and Seventy (270) aircraft taking part in the operation, comprising 232 Halifaxes, 20 Mosquitoes and 18 Lancasters.

No losses due to combat were reported by Bomber Command or claimed. However 51 Sqn Halifax NR129 MH:M, flown by Flt Lt. Gordon Chapman RAFVR and 346 Sqn Halifax NA557 H7:L, flown by Sgt. A.L. Fauges of the FFAF collided over Belgium with the loss of all fourteen (14) crew members.

The aircraft was returning from operations and was asked to do a dummy run over the flare path to check the visibility. The aircraft flew along the runway at 50-100 ft. climbing only to about 300 ft. before commencing to turn. While turning the aircraft lost height and the port wing tip hit some trees 50-60 ft. high about two (2) miles from the airfield, adjacent to Spaldington bombing range, and cartwheeled bursting into flames.

There is no evidence, to show why the aircraft lost height during the turn or that the pilot was aware of his actual height above the ground, when he started to turn.

As the night was so dark accurate instrument flying would be required after leaving the flare path. Concentration on the instruments may have been distracted by an interest in the airfield lights arid transmitting on R/T. This might account for loss of height during the turn. It would appear that this pilot would not normally start to turn at such a low altitude, which, from instrument indications, might suggest that he was unaware of his actual height above the ground. There was a 180 ft. difference in altimeter reading since take-off.

The exact cause of this accident remained obscure. The most likely cause was considered to appear to be an error of judgement on the part of the pilot. The inquiry was convinced that the pilot was not ‘shooting-up’ the aerodrome to celebrate the end of the tour.

(1) Fg Off. Buchanan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 78 Sqn. London Gazette 22nd September 1944.

Citation: “Distinguished Flying Cross. Flying Officer Malcolm Stjernqvist BUCHANAN (Aus 414641), RAAF, 78 Sqn. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying). 1571262 Sergeant William James BAILEY, RAFVR., 78 Sqn. One night in July, 1944, this officer and airman were captain and flight engineer respectively of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in North France. After the target had been bombed, the bomber was attacked by an enemy fighter and sustained severe damage. A fire broke out within the aircraft and an explosion occurred in Sergeant Bailey's compartment wounding him in both legs. Disregarding his injuries, this airman fought the fire until the flames were quelled. Meanwhile Flying Officer Buchanan, who had been severely burnt about the face, flew the aircraft on a level course. This officer and airman have completed many sorties and have at all times displayed courage, fortitude and determination of a high order”.

The DFC cited above was awarded to Flt Lt. Buchanan then a Fg Off., for his conduct in the crash-landing of Halifax MZ788 EY:F earlier in the year.

(2) His brother WO2. John Victor Welsh R70984 RCAF, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, was reported MiA on the night of the 17th/18th December 1942 after his 13 Sqn Blenheim V BA785 failed to return from an operation to bomb the Bizerta docks. He, Fg Off. Alaric Jickling 118398 RAFVR and Flt Sgt. Harry McDonald Martin R56412 RCAF are commemorated on the Malta Memorial.

Flt Sgt. Welsh was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J87795 Plt Off. effective 6th July 1944.

Burial details:

Above: The funeral of Flt Lt. Buchanan DFC at Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery on the 27th November 1944. The service was read by Sqn Ldr. Selwyn Harris. Tom Phillips and Jack Goodall also attended. (Courtesy Goodall family)

Flt Lt. Malcolm Stjernqvist Buchanan DFC. Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Sec H. Row C. Grave 9. Grave Inscription: ‘FATHER, IN THY TENDER KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING’. Born on the 28th December 1912 in Gympie, Queensland. Son of Malcolm and Ada May Buchanan of Goomboorian, Queensland, Australia.

Sgt. Robert James Barron. Insch New Cemetery. Sec. B.A. Grave 127. Grave Inscription: ‘GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’. Born on the 12th April 1917 in Carnousie Haughs, Banffshire. Son of William Smart and Robina McIntyre (née Pirie). Husband of Agnes (née Wishart) Barron of Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Flt Lt. Wilbert James Robertson. Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Sec H. Row C. Grave 10. Grave Inscription: ‘THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT’. Born on the 7th April 1919 in Edmonton, Alberta. Son of Mark Wilbert and Bessie Mae (née French) Robertson of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Plt Off. Lawrence Albert Welsh. Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery. Sec H. Row C. Grave 8. Born on the 27th January 1924 in Regina, Saskatchewan. Son of William John and Clara Elizabeth (née McDougall) Welsh of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Plt Off. James Hedley Rice. Ashby-De-La-Zouch Cemetery Sec. 3. Grave 1808. Grave Inscription: ‘SWIFT DEATH AFLAME WITH OFFERING SUPREME AND MIGHTY SACRIFICE’. Born in December 1910 in Belfast, Ireland. Son of Alfred (deceased April 1924) and Annie Frances Mary (née Cochrane) Rice. Husband of Euphemia Isabella (née Straker) Rice of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England.

Plt Off. James McCannon. Ahamplish Church of Ireland Churchyard. Grave Inscription: ‘JESUS IN THY MERCY GRANT HIS SOUL ETERNAL REST. FOND PARENTS AND BROTHER R.I.P.’. Son of James and Mary McCannon of Sligo, Ireland.

Plt Off. James Vincent Reddington. Huddersfield (Edgerton) Cemetery. Sec. 18R. Born on the 17th May 1925 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Son of Martin and Florrie (née Jessop) Reddington of Huddersfield, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) for Beverley Goodall, niece of the pilot and dedicated to all the relatives of this crew. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2025).

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