Operation: Training

Date: 19th December 1943 (Sunday)

Unit No: 138 Squadron (Special Duties)

Type: Halifax II

Serial: BB364

Code: NF:R

Base: RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire

Location: Arlesey, Bedfordshire

Pilot: Sgt. Hubert Gwyn Williams 1394323 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Flt Eng: Sgt. Stanley Higham 1523110 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Harold Maitland Houghton 1543667 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Nav 2: Plt Off. Cyril Arthur Woolldridge 155858 RAFVR Age 32. Killed

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Joseph Norman Polland 1485923 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Frank Henry Adams 1395215 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. John Edward Mooney 1032093 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

Air Gnr: Sgt. Cyril Addison Kidd 2210121 RAFVR Age 37. Killed

Pax: Sgt. Alexander John MacIntyre 873863 RAF Age 36. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a container dropping exercise over RAF Henlow airfield the Halifax struck one of the tall chimneys at the Arlesey Brickworks south east of the target area at 19:25 hrs. The aircraft crashed in flames - killing all the crew.

We welcome any further information on this.

Burial details:

Sgt. Hubert Gwyn Williams. Holy Trinity churchyard, Taliaris, Carmarthenshire. South West part. Inscription: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS". The son of Joseph and Sarah Williams, of Manordilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

Sgt. Stanley Higham. St Peters church, Mawdesley. Grave 35. The son of James and Margaret Higham, of Mawdesley, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. Harold Maitland Houghton. Ridgmont Cemetery, Horwich. C of E Section 2, grave 0.25. The son of Ernest and Annie Houghton, of Horwich, Lancashire, England.

Sgt. Joseph Norman Polland. Dundonald Cemetery, Belfast, Co. Antrim. Grave E.2.766. Inscription: "AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM". The son of Samuel and Sara Polland, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Sgt. Frank Henry Adams. Islington Cemetery and Crematorium, London. Sec. O. Block 9. Grave 21184P. Inscription: "GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN". The son of Frank Henry and Violet Elizabeth Adams and husband of Elizabeth May Adams, of Islington, London, England.

Plt Off. Cyril Arthur Woolldridge. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 21.C.19. Inscription: "FOR EVER AND EVER". The son of Laurence Cyril and Marie Elizabeth Woolldridge and husband of Lena Marguerite Woolldridge, of Bromley, Kent, England.

Sgt. John Edward Mooney. Ford Cemetery, Liverpool. Grave AE88. Inscription: "IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND JOHN. ALWAYS REMEMBERED". The son of William and Johanna Mooney, of Liverpool and husband of Robina Josephine Mooney, of Kensington, Liverpool, England.

Sgt. Cyril Addison Kidd. Kirkdale cemetery, Liverpool. C of E section 20. Grave 422. The son of Frederick Robert and May Kidd and husband of Jane Elizabeth Kidd, of Liverpool, England.

Sgt. Alexander John MacIntyre. Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey. Grave 21. Inscription: "TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE". Son of Malcolm and Cecilia Macintyre, of Glasgow and husband of Gertrude Macintyre, of Glasgow, Scotland.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Mike McQuaid for grave photos and information. Also to wertypop for Brookwood Cemetery photos.

Other sources listed below.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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