419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB785 & KB763

Crew members of KB785 & KB763

KB763- August 29/30 1944

F/O Mansfield's crew were in the target area of Stettin when an incendary device dropped by another aircraft above them broke through the port outer engine nacelle. The devices exploded setting fire to the engine and the area around it putting the engine out of service.
The Mid-Upper gunner Sgt. Jigursky in the confusion bailed out. To the Sergeant the burst looked like a flak hit on the wing and he left the aircraft without the bail out order.
The fire was under control with the efforts of the pilot and the rest of the crew. All other crew members returned to base.
Sgt. Jigursky became a Prisoner of War.

KB785 - November 24 th.1944

Lancaster KB785 VR-Y- At 1812 hours KB785 was returning from an assigned cross country detail, they "came up" on R/T. Where instructions from Officer in charge of Night Flying told the crew to proceed on a Bombing Detail. These instruction were acknowledged at 1814 hours.
At 1825 hours Bradbury Bombing Range called their base saying they had seen a great flash in the air, after which the sound of an approaching aircraft's motors were no longer heard.
An investigation lead by two Engineers and headed by an Investigating Officer, gave conflicting evidence on the cause of the events surrounding the aircraft's loss.
It then fell on to Air Commodore R. E. McBurney to consider the evidence of the 16 witnesses to the accident, which he proceed to do. In his opion the witnesses provided greater help in solving what had happened. And he therefore accepted or put forth the cause of the fire being due to the fuel jettison system which was inadvertently selected instead of cold air. And the Air Commodore advised that all Groups to render the fuel jettison system inoperative until modified or a satisfactory system replaces it.
From what I can find out no modifications were made to future Lancasters or changes other then to wire the valve shut.
KB785 came down 250 yards South East of Sedgefield Railway Station, killing all crew members. The crew's loss was felt deeply by the whole squadron as it was nearing the completion of the crew's Tour.
Although F/S Murphy listed Detroit as his home town, he was still a British citizen. His family four brothers and five sisters immigrated to the United States from Scotland, but had not taken up citizenship.

Crew members of KB785 & KB763

KB763- August 29/30 1944

KB785 - November 24 th.1944

Flying Officer

Richard Gerard Mansfield DFC

Pilot Age 27, had 27 Ops.
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Ottawa Ontario.
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Pilot Officer

George Henry Warren-Darley

Navigator Age 35 (Married)
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flying Officer

Allan Charles Hirst

Bomb Aimer Age 22, 25 Ops.
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Vancouver BC
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

Douglas Alexander Gunn

Wireless Op Age 22
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Pilot Officer RAF

Derek Gordon Newland

F/E Age 21RAF
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Streatham Hill London, England
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

John Joseph Murphy

Rear gunner Age 19
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Detroit Michigan
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

Leslie Wilfred Toth

Upper Gunner Age 27 married
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Kipling Saskatchewan
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Crew members of KB785 & KB763

KB763- August 29/30 1944

KB785 - November 24 th.1944

Flying Officer

Richard Gerard Mansfield DFC

Pilot Age 27, had 27 Ops. Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Ottawa Ontario. Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Pilot Officer

George Henry Warren-Darley

Navigator Age 35 (Married) Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Toronto Ontario Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flying Officer

Allan Charles Hirst

Bomb Aimer Age 22, 25 Ops.Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Vancouver BC Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

Douglas Alexander Gunn

Wireless Op Age 22 Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Toronto Ontario Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Pilot Officer RAF

Derek Gordon Newland

F/E Age 21RAF Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Streatham Hill London, England Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

John Joseph Murphy

Rear gunner Age 19 Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Detroit Michigan Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Flight Sergeant

Leslie Wilfred Toth

Upper Gunner Age 27 married Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944 From Kipling Saskatchewan Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Pilot Age 27, had 27 Ops.
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Ottawa Ontario.
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Navigator Age 35 (Married)
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Bomb Aimer Age 22, 25 Ops.
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Vancouver BC
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Wireless Op Age 22
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Toronto Ontario
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

F/E Age 21RAF
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Streatham Hill London, England
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Rear gunner Age 19
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Detroit Michigan
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Upper Gunner Age 27 married
Killed In Action Nov. 24th 1944
From Kipling Saskatchewan
Burial Stonefall Cemetery, Wetherby Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire