Operation: Training

Date: 31st January 1943 (Friday)

Unit No: 428 (Ghost) Squadron RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Wellington X

Serial: HE173

Code: NA:S

Base: RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire

Location: 1 mile NE of the airfield

Pilot: Fg Off. Norman Gorick 124505 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Nav: Fg Off. George Wood J10688 RCAF Age 26. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. William Mossop 632357 RAF Age 24. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. John Welsh 1029331 RAFVR Age? Injured

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off at 02:12 hrs from RAF Dishforth on a practice night flight and crashed a minute later about 1 mile NE of the airfield.

The aircraft took off normally and gained approximately 300 to 500 feet then lost height gradually and hit the ground. The sole survivor, Sgt. Welsh who was thrown clear, stated that he felt the nose drop in a manner similar to that experienced when flap was taken off more steeply than usual.

Examination of the scene of the accident and remains of the aircraft showed that the aircraft struck the ground with flaps and undercarriage retracted, both engines running and nose slightly down.

The Officer Commanding of 428 Sqn reported that Fg Off. Gorick was trained on the Wellington IC and Hampden, and had previously shown reason signs of weakness in cockpit drill and instrument flying. For that he had been given extra instruction in cockpit drill and approximately twice the hours of the normal amount of dual instruction at night. He had completed three hours dual and night dual and 45 minutes night solo, at the unit. He had done one duel and three solo circuits satisfactorily on the night of the crash. It was his opinion that the accident was caused by the Pilot losing height shortly after taking off, probably whilst feeling for the flap lever, and then failing to hold the nose up when he took off flap.

Final log book entry for the only survivor Sgt. John Welsh (courtesy Stephen Elliot)

This accident was the first loss for 428 Sqn since its formation on 7th November 1942.

RAF Dishforth opened in 1936. At the beginning of the Second World War it became part of 4 Group, Bomber Command and was used for recruit training. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers were flown from there in 1940. Between 1943 and 1945 the station was used by No. 6 (RCAF) Group, RAF Bomber Command and was a sub-station of RAF Topcliffe. Immediately after the war the station was used to convert aircrew to the Douglas Dakota transport aircraft.

Burial details:

Above: Fg Off. Norman Gorick grave (courtesy Peter Lucas)

Fg Off. Norman Gorick. Worsley (St. Mark) Churchyard Grave 666. Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1921 in Blackburn, Lancashire. Son of William and Edith Rachel (née Shaw) Gorick of Eccles, Manchester, England.

Fg Off. George Wood. Bradford (Scholemor) Cemetery Cons Sec L. joint grave 271. Born on the 12th January 1917 in Toronto, Ontario. Son of Charles and Agnes (née Harrison) Wood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Eileen Maude (née Williams) Wood of Toronto, Canada.

Flt Sgt. William Mossop. Brandon and Byshottles (Meadowfield) Cemetery Sec. C. Grave 334. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1918 in Durham. Son of Joseph Henry and Phyllis (née Waine) Mossop of Meadowfield, England.

Researched for relatives of the crew and for a very diligent member of the public Stephen Elliot who managed to save the log book of Sgt. John Welsh at a recent auction. Photographic images from this have been entered into the Aircrew Remembered archives - another part of history saved. Also thanks to Peter Lucas for grave photo of pilot. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Jun 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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