AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List

.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

434 Squadron Crest
19.09.1944 No. 434 Squadron Halifax III MZ908 WL-O P/O. Lees

Operation: Walcheren

Date: 19th September 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 434 Squadron

Type: Halifax III

Serial: MZ908

Code: WL-O

Base: RAF Croft, Yorkshire

Location: Akeld, Northumberland

Pilot: P/O. John Clive Lees J/86771 RCAF Age 20. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. M.H. Bush 985461 RAFVR Slight back Injuries - survived

Nav: P/O. R. Jim “Sea Level” Thompson J/88142 RCAF - survived

Air/Bmr: F/O. “Ivan” B.R. Warr J/29389 RCAF - survived

W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. M. “Cody” Stiles J/36550 RCAF - survived

Air/Gnr: P/O. Pete Melnechuck J/86807 RCAF - survived (1)

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. “Rusty” W.H. Boyer R/21427 RCAF - survived (1)


We are indebted to Chris Davis who researched this loss and also visited the crash site in July 2011. Further details are available on this and many others in his publications ‘Almost Forgotten’ Volumes 1 and 2 - The Search For Aviation Accidents In Northumberland. (details shown below)


REASON FOR LOSS:

Many reference books record the crash site as Fenton Town and after much investigation by the webmaster, no place exists in the area that the accident occurred. Finally, I contacted Chris Davies and he confirmed the actual crash site for me. (see below)

The previous day of the loss they had been restored on an operation to Domburg - to attack gun emplacements. However the Master Bomber called off the attack and Halifax MZ908 returned but diverted to RAF Tholthorpe in North Yorkshire - the aircraft landed with its full bomb load.

The following day they took off again at 13:30 hrs for the raid on Walcheren - yet again the operation was cancelled and the aircraft recalled.

L to R - F/O. Warr, P/O. Thompson, F/O. Stiles, Fl/Sgt. Boyer, P/O. Melnechuck, P/O. Lees - missing Sgt. Bush.

During preparation to land, the Halifax shed a propeller from the outer starboard engine which then struck the inner starboard engine, removing that propeller. As the aircraft was close to RAF Milfield they requested permission to land. On three occasions for whatever reason the permission was declined. (RAF Milfield was at the time the base for 59 Operational Training Unit - Fighter Command)

Left: pieces recovered at the crash site (courtesy Chris Davies)

In view of the possible danger the pilot, P/O. John Lees, instructed the crew to bale out - all did so successfully. He decided to attempt a landing at Milfield - sadly the aircraft crashed at 16:15 hrs at Ewart’s View Farm in Akeld. The pilot died in the crash.

(1) It is understood that P/O. Pete Melnechuck passed away in 1976 - Fl/Sgt. “Rusty” Boye was from the USA - we welcome contact from any relatives of the crew in order to complete details.

The crew had, we understand, completed over 20 operations prior to this accident.

Above: P/O. John Clive Lees (courtesy John Jones)

Burial details:

P/O. John Clive Lees. Harrogate Cemetery (Stonefall). Sec. E. Row E. Grave 7. Son of Bernard Gordon Clive and Sorea Louise Lees, of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. The grave inscription reads: “Greater Love Hath No Man”.

‘Almost Forgotten’ Volumes 1 and 2 - The Search For Aviation Accidents In Northumberland. ISBN: 978-1445603339. Amberley Publishing.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Linda Ibrom, Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, Chris Davies, John Jones. Other sources as quoted below.

KTY - 17.06.2017

KTY - 14.01.2022 Crew numbers added and pilot photo (courtesy John Jones)

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
Click any image to enlarge it

Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025
Last Modified: 14 January 2022, 13:43

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor