Operation: Chemnitz, Germany
Date: March 5 1945 (Monday)
Unit: No. 426 Squadron RCAF - Motto: On Wings of Fire
Squadron Badge: A Thunderbird
Type: Handley Page Halifax VII
Serial: NP793
Code: OW-H
Base: RAF Linton on Ouse, North Riding of Yorkshire
Location: Crashed near Kirbymoorside, North Riding of Yorkshire
Pilot: F/O Humphrey Stanley Watts J37111 RCAF Age 28 - Killed (1)
Fl/Eng: P/O William Albert Togwell 195231 RAFVR Age 25 - Killed (2)
Nav: F/O Frank MacGregor Myers J39365 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (3)
Air/Bmr: P/O William Albert Way J94149 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (4)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: P/O Benedict Joseph McCarthy J94463 RCAF Age 27 - Killed (5)
Air/Gnr: P/O Richard Alan Biggerstaff J95425 RCAF Age 19 - Killed (6)
Air/Gnr: P/O Maxwell Warren Coones J95426 RCAF Age 20 - Killed (7)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Severe Airframe Icing. For further details see JB122 ADDENDUM: AIRFRAME ICING - Loss 2
BURIAL DETAILS, MEMORIALS AND EPITAPHS
1) F/O Humphre
y Stanley Watts was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H Row P. Grave 16.
His epitaph reads:
He has come into
His heritage
Son of Herbert Stanley and Margaret Watts, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
F/O Watts was a chemist- BSc, MSc (McGill).
(2) P/O William Albert Togwell was buried at Derby (Nottingham Road) Cemetery - Sec. F. Grave 76127.
His epitaph reads:
He gave his life
That we might live,
For he too loved life
Son of Frederick William and Sarah Ann Togwell; husband of Florrie Togwell (nee Bettison).
(3) F/O Frank MacGregor Myers was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 17.
His epitaph reads
His song is sung
He remains for ever young
Son of Frederick John and Jean Ferguson Myers, of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.
(4) P/O William Albert Way was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 15.
No epitaph
(5) P/O Benedict Joseph McCarthy was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 3.
His epitaph reads:
Son of Janet
And the late
William McCarthy.
May his soul rest in peace
Son of William and Janet McCarthy, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
(6) P/O Richard Alan Biggerstaff was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 13.
His epitaph reads:
O send out
Thy light
And Thy truth:
Let them lead me
Psa. 43:3
Son of Richard William and Helen Amelia Biggerstaff, of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
(7) P/O Maxwell Warren Coones was buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery - Sec. H. Row P. Grave 14.
His epitaph reads
He who dared
The trackless sky
Has found a faith
More strong and sure
Son of John Howard and Mary Christina Coones, of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
References:
Aircrew Remembered Archive Report: JB122 Addendum- Airframe Icing. Journey’s End, Kevin Wilson- Chapter Fourteen, A COLD AND SILENT KILLER pp. 266-292. Library and Archives Canada/ancestry.ca. Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
Photo Credits:
LAC/ancestry.ca: Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947. A2. F/O Humphrey Watts - File 28906 Image 428. B2. F/O Frank Myers - File 28318 Image 351. C2. P/O Benedict McCarthy - File 28041 Image 163. D2. P/O Richard Biggerstaff- File 24854 Image 44. E2. P/O Maxwell Coones - File 25100 Image 215
Co-Authors:
John Naylor
Maureen Hicks
Pete Pearson
Reg Price DFC, 625 Squadron vet
Submission by John Proctor, Jack Albrecht and Nic Lewis.
JA 08-09-2019