Archive Report: Allied Forces

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04.10.1943 No. 100 Squadron Lancaster III ED583 HW-K F/O. Thomas H. Morgan DFC

Operation: Aircraft test flight

Date: 4th October 1943

Unit: No. 100 Squadron

Type: Avro Lancaster III

Serial: ED583

Code: HW-K

Base: RAF Grimsby

Location: North Thoresby, Lincolnshire, England

Pilot: F/O. Thomas H. Morgan DFC T-190798 USAAF Age 23. Killed

Pilot: W/O. John Thomas Goozee 552903 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Ralph Frederick Worsey 1392269 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Charles Alexander Green 1622553 RAFVR Age 20. Killed.

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Walter Edward James Giles DFM. 1194020 RAFVR Age ? Killed

Nav: Sgt. John Alexander Baker 1395957 RAF Age ? Killed

Air/Bmr: Sgt. John Hill Rogers 1545048 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Frederick Bristow 1268417 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Not the usual crew of ED 583 - all volunteered to test the aircraft. Took off from RAF Grimsby at 12.05 hrs to air test the outer starboard engine and to gain as much height as possible. At approximately 12.50 hrs the aircraft broke up in the air over North Thoresby. 7 miles south of Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Scattering debris over a wide area with some of it destroying a chapel in the village and damaging a number of houses. Fortunately with no loss of life on the ground. All the 8 crew members were killed and are buried in various cemeteries within the United Kingdom, having been claimed by their next of kin.

Above L-R: F/O. Morgan DFC, Sgt. Rogers and Sgt. Giles DFM. (see credits)

Tommy Morgan joined the RCAF training School in Brandon, Manitoba on the 15th April 1941. He was a Sergeant when he later joined the USAAF (No reasons found for this) and eventually came to fly Lancaster's with 100 Squadron. At the end of May/early June 1943 he was promoted to Flying Officer.

Around the time of his 27th mission over Germany he received the DFC and his Fl/Eng. Jim Giles the DFM for an exploit over Germany - these details have yet to be sourced.

On the 4th October 1943 Tommy volunteered to flight test ED583. The weather was cloudy but conditions considered satisfactory for the test. The aircraft suffered severe structural failure.

Above Lancaster ED583 HW-K (see credits)

The final moments have been described as a steep dive, almost vertical, with no tail and outer portions of the wings missing.

Tommy had completed his operational tour and had written to his girlfriend Irene, only days before his death to say that he had finished with flying.

The regular crew of ED583 all survived the war.

Burial Details:

F/O. Thomas H. Morgan DFC. Cambridge American Cemetery. Son of Susan "Tudie" Hurley Morgan (Father died when Tommy was 2) of St. Helens, Oregon, USA.

W/O. John Thomas Goozee. Islington Cemetery and Crematorium. Sec. P. Block. 6, Grave 7427P. Son of John Donovan and Mary Ann, of Kingsbury, husband of Doris May Goozee, of Kenton, Harrow. England.

Sgt. Ralph Frederick Worsey. Woolwich Cemetery. Sec. 2. Grave 175. Son of Frederick John and Kate Louisa, of Plumstead.

Sgt. Charles Alexander Green. Hull Eastern Cemetery Compt. 169. Grave 75. Son of Charles Alexander and Lillian Green, of Hull, England.

Sgt. Walter Edward James Giles DFM. Oxford (Rose Hill) Cemetery. Sec. G.1. Grave 19. Son of Mrs. M. E. Giles, of New Marston, Oxford, England.

Sgt. John Alexander Baker. Lambeth (Tooting) Cemetery. Sec. 0.3. Coll. Grave 647. Screen Wall, Panel 1. Son of John and Minnie Elizabeth Baker, of Vauxhall.

Sgt. John Hill Rogers. Upton. (Holy Ascension) Churchyard. Upton-By-Chester Old ground. Grave 320. Son of Harry and Gladys R. Rogers, of Chester, England. Buried with his grandmother, Edith Barbara (Poppy) Gilbert.

Sgt. William Frederick Bristow. Camberwell New Cemetery. Square 82. Coll. Grave 7879. Screen Wall. Panel 2. Son of Frederick and May, husband of Annie of East Dulwich, England.

This research together with the photographs have been supplied to us by Mr Dave Barnet (Village Councillor, North Thoresby Village) and Mr Shaun McGuire for which we are very grateful. Also to Mike McQuaid for grave photo of Sgt. Rogers (November 2015). Thanks to Mike McQuaid for providing the Sgt. Green's gravestone image, courtesy of Wayne Bywater.

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