Hey everyone..
I am new at this post.
Does anyone have any information about the Halifax R9497 or a picture to share?
A loved lost his life in this plane crash, 1943.
Thank you!

Dear jjsgirl,
Looking at my Halifax File with all the serials numbers I find that R9497 was a 1658 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) Halifax and it was used to train the bomber crews on 4 engine bombers just before they were assigned to a bomber squadron for combat.

R9497 collided in mid-air with another Halifax DG420 from 1663 HCU and both aircraft crashed at Copmanthorpe, Yorks.

We have a mystery on the date of the crashes as one record says 5/12/42 and another says 19/8/43.

There is a book with a narrative of each crash with details for each and every crash at the HCUs of Bomber Command.
If you wish to find this book it is:

ROYAL AIR FORCE Bomber Command Losses Vol.8:
Heavy Conversion Units and Misc. Units 1940-1947
by W.R. Chorley

Any good book dealer or library should have them or Google and buy it, looks like about 17 pounds.

Hope this helps with the research.

Cheers, Karl Kj.

Dearest Karl
Thank you so much for your reply and information. I did manage to get a copy of that record from the Chorley book.

Please do tell me about the mystery date...Where did you come accross the record that dated this crash as 5/12/42?
Also that would mean the 5th of December right? not the 12th of May right?
Do tell me about this mystery date...perhaps its the reason why this crash is not recorded as much as all the other crashes.
Thank you for your precious time..
I await your reply anxiously.
Best Wishes
JJ's Girl

Halifax R9497 definately crashed on the 19th August 1943 not May 5th 1942. The only crash of an a/c from Riccal on May 5th 42 was R9531 of 1658 HCU, and this came down near S****horpe and was not in collision with another a/c. The Halifax file date entry for R9497 is incorrect.

Halifax R9497 collided with Halifax DG420 on 19th August 1943

Peter (yep I am the same one!)

That should be S****horpe!

Dunno why it did that!
P

Halifax R9497 definately crashed on the 19th August 1943 not Dec 5th 1942. The only crash of an a/c from Riccal on Dec5th 42 was R9531 of 1658 HCU, and this came down near S****HORPE and was not in collision with another a/c. The Halifax file date entry for R9497 is incorrect.

Sorry for the confusion this of course was due to the fact that we put the dates differently on opposite sides of the 'Pond'!

Peter

Hi,
19 August 1943 was the correct date. I attended my brother's funeral at Harrogate. He was Sergeant Donald Ravine.
Regards, Peter Ravine.