Douglas Haydock
Rank Sergeant Flight Engineer.
Service Number 980744.
Regiment Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Date of death 26th February 1944.
Age 24.
Grave reference Sec. C 2627.
Douglas Haydock was born in the Barton Upon Irwell district in 1919. The son of Frederick Haydock (1) and Louisa Walsh (2). He married Arline Smith (3) at Holy Rood, Swinton in 1939, the couple had one daughter.
At the time of death Douglas was living with his wife and daughter at 202 Moorside Road Swinton. He enlisted in the RAF in 1940, after two years of service he was released to work as an Aircraft Engineer at an Aircraft factory. A year later he volunteered for air crew duties as a Flight Engineer. Before the war he was employed by Nunns Garage, Broughton, and as a boy attended St. Peters School, Swinton.
Douglas Haydock was the flight engineer aboard the Lancaster Bomber ED383 on the evening of the 25th February, the target that evening was Augsburg, ED383 took off at 2130 hours from Mildenhall. It was hit by flak whilst circling the target area and hydraulics rendered u/s, brakes and flaps becoming inoperative on touchdown. The crew made a diversion to Lakenheath owing to low cloud, they made several 'touch and goes' before fuel shortage forced them down, the aircraft over-ran the runway onto soft ground, overturned and caught fire, the time was 05.10 hrs of the 26th February. All the other 15 Sqn Lancasters returned safely to the UK.
ED383 had previously flown with No.1656 CU and 622 Sqn before being taken over by 15 Sqn on 16 Dec 1943. When Cat E/FB burnt in the crash it had flown a total of 628.15 hours flying time.
Dramatic attempts were made to rescue the crew of the Lancaster which resulted in two bravery medals being awarded, an OBE and a BEM.
Squadron Leader Pettit was the officer in charge of night flying when the aircraft, whilst attempting an emergency landing, overshot the end of the runway and overturned. The aircraft immediately caught fire. Squadron Leader Pettit rushed to the spot and, with the assistance of the fire party led by leading aircraftman Wray, quickly released two members of the crew who had been trapped in the fuselage. Squadron Leader Pettit then found that the rear gunner was seriously injured and trapped upside down in his turret. By this time the aircraft was burning furiously and the petrol tanks had started to explode. In spite of this and of the further danger from exploding ammunition and pyrotechnics, Squadron Leader Pettit decided to attempt the extremely difficult task of removing the rear turret completely from the fuselage as all other attempts to reach the trapped gunner had failed. By strenuous efforts he was ultimately able to get into the turret while a party headed by Leading Aircraftman Wray, wrenched at it from outside. Eventually the gunner was extricated alive and without any addition to the severe injuries which he had sustained in the crash. Squadron Leader Pettit's coolness, courage and initiative, and Leading Aircraftman Wray's determination and devotion to duty in dangerous circumstances were of a very high order and were instrumental in saving the lives of three members of the crew of the aircraft.
Squadron Leader Pettit was awarded an OBE, and Leading Aircraftman Wray was awarded the British Empire Medal.
(1) Frederick Haydock was born 1892 in Salford, the son of Roger Haydock born 1857 in Manchester and Alice Maud Mills born 1861 in Manchester, the couple married 1880 Salford.
(2) Louisa Walsh was born 1894 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, the daughter of Edward Walsh born 1864 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire and Emily Walsh born 1866 in Norland, Yorkshire.
(3) Arline Smith was born 1917 in the Barton Upon Irwell district, most likely Pendlebury, she was the daughter of James H Smith and Ruth B Fairhurst who married at Christ Church, Pendlebury in 1915.
Rank Sergeant Flight Engineer.
Service Number 980744.
Regiment Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Date of death 26th February 1944.
Age 24.
Grave reference Sec. C 2627.
Douglas Haydock was born in the Barton Upon Irwell district in 1919. The son of Frederick Haydock (1) and Louisa Walsh (2). He married Arline Smith (3) at Holy Rood, Swinton in 1939, the couple had one daughter.
At the time of death Douglas was living with his wife and daughter at 202 Moorside Road Swinton. He enlisted in the RAF in 1940, after two years of service he was released to work as an Aircraft Engineer at an Aircraft factory. A year later he volunteered for air crew duties as a Flight Engineer. Before the war he was employed by Nunns Garage, Broughton, and as a boy attended St. Peters School, Swinton.
Douglas Haydock was the flight engineer aboard the Lancaster Bomber ED383 on the evening of the 25th February, the target that evening was Augsburg, ED383 took off at 2130 hours from Mildenhall. It was hit by flak whilst circling the target area and hydraulics rendered u/s, brakes and flaps becoming inoperative on touchdown. The crew made a diversion to Lakenheath owing to low cloud, they made several 'touch and goes' before fuel shortage forced them down, the aircraft over-ran the runway onto soft ground, overturned and caught fire, the time was 05.10 hrs of the 26th February. All the other 15 Sqn Lancasters returned safely to the UK.
ED383 had previously flown with No.1656 CU and 622 Sqn before being taken over by 15 Sqn on 16 Dec 1943. When Cat E/FB burnt in the crash it had flown a total of 628.15 hours flying time.
Dramatic attempts were made to rescue the crew of the Lancaster which resulted in two bravery medals being awarded, an OBE and a BEM.
Squadron Leader Pettit was the officer in charge of night flying when the aircraft, whilst attempting an emergency landing, overshot the end of the runway and overturned. The aircraft immediately caught fire. Squadron Leader Pettit rushed to the spot and, with the assistance of the fire party led by leading aircraftman Wray, quickly released two members of the crew who had been trapped in the fuselage. Squadron Leader Pettit then found that the rear gunner was seriously injured and trapped upside down in his turret. By this time the aircraft was burning furiously and the petrol tanks had started to explode. In spite of this and of the further danger from exploding ammunition and pyrotechnics, Squadron Leader Pettit decided to attempt the extremely difficult task of removing the rear turret completely from the fuselage as all other attempts to reach the trapped gunner had failed. By strenuous efforts he was ultimately able to get into the turret while a party headed by Leading Aircraftman Wray, wrenched at it from outside. Eventually the gunner was extricated alive and without any addition to the severe injuries which he had sustained in the crash. Squadron Leader Pettit's coolness, courage and initiative, and Leading Aircraftman Wray's determination and devotion to duty in dangerous circumstances were of a very high order and were instrumental in saving the lives of three members of the crew of the aircraft.
Squadron Leader Pettit was awarded an OBE, and Leading Aircraftman Wray was awarded the British Empire Medal.
(1) Frederick Haydock was born 1892 in Salford, the son of Roger Haydock born 1857 in Manchester and Alice Maud Mills born 1861 in Manchester, the couple married 1880 Salford.
(2) Louisa Walsh was born 1894 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, the daughter of Edward Walsh born 1864 in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire and Emily Walsh born 1866 in Norland, Yorkshire.
(3) Arline Smith was born 1917 in the Barton Upon Irwell district, most likely Pendlebury, she was the daughter of James H Smith and Ruth B Fairhurst who married at Christ Church, Pendlebury in 1915.
© Susan Tydd
Please do not reproduce without permission
Please do not reproduce without permission