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The crew had completed twenty-two training flights flying Stirling bombers at 1657CU (Conversion Unit) based at Stradishall, Suffolk. They had come to the end of their training and were due to be posted to No. 75 Squadron, the famous New Zealand Squadron, flying Lancaster heavy bombers at Mepal, Cambridgeshire.

On the Monday night, one of the planes failed to return from a flight over the North Sea. Hector and crew were engaged in the search from the air without success.

On the Wednesday, 18th April 1944, another, also with a predominantly New Zealander crew that Hector and the crew had trained with, took off on training exercises. This crew flew to the US base at Polebrook, Bedfordshire, to perform circuits and landings. As they came into land to complete their fourth circuit, three American NCOs who were returning on their bikes after a night out, were hit and killed. The Stirling bomber damaged an engine in the collision and attempted to reach another runway used for emergency landings. There were nine crewmembers on board. Seven bailed out but one crewmember was killed when his parachute failed to open. Shortly afterwards, there was an explosion and the Stirling bomber crashed killing the remaining two crewmembers who were struggling at the controls. Of the six crewmembers who survived, five were later killed a couple of months later when their Lancaster bomber was hit by another Lancaster bomber whilst flying on an operation. All, but one, of the crewmembers were never found as both aircraft crashed into the Channel.

The one remaining survivor from the accident on 18th April 1944 went on to survive the war and died in 1998.

The dreaded crashes at Stradishall were now "happening in threes" and superstition took hold among the flyers.

The week had many interruptions due to the flying schedule, what with the weather and planes unserviceable, so the station was very low on actual flying hours.

On Friday night, 20th April 1944, to get up time spent in the air, Hector and the crew took off on their twenty-third and final training flight before they were due to join No.75 Squadron the following day. This was a long cross-country night flight, which would add to their flying time.

When they returned to land, two motors cut out on the port wing. The wing dropped and the plane crashed head on into the runway at 23.12 hours in front of the control tower. The plane burst into flames as the tail of the plane rose into the air to be whipped backwards with the force of the impact before falling back onto its belly.

All of the fuselage forward of the mid-upper turret was demolished and five crewmembers including John Cooper were all killed instantly.

As the tail of the plane whipped backwards, Frank was worried he would be flipped into the fire so attempted to get out of his mid-upper turret but as the plane fell back onto its belly, Frank who was already partly out of his turret, was thrown, smashing the ladder from the turret to the floor of the plane. Everything was on fire but he knew where the plane's door was and passed through the flames and jumped out. He expected a six-foot drop but as the plane was on its belly the drop was only six inches so he jarred himself badly as he landed. Despite a suspected fractured forearm, broken teeth and an injured hip, he ran around the plane hoping to rescue any other survivors. At the back of the plane he only found a hole where Hectors rear turret had been.

In the force of the impact and as the tail had flipped backwards, Hector and his turret had been thrown some distance away from the plane. Frank found Hector, still in his turret amongst flames where petrol had spilt. He pulled Hector out of his turret and as he did so, a WAAF returning on her pushbike with friends from a night out stopped to assist. Together they supported him by his shoulders and dragged him away from the plane and flames into long grass before the plane blew up, as there was 2000 gallons of high-octane petrol on board.

The WAAF then laid on top of Hector in the long grass to protect him from the exploding ammunition and petrol tanks. Hector had suffered a blow to his head, which had brought his scalp down over his eyes. He was bleeding profusely over his flying suit and the WAAF as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

Meanwhile, Frank had run back to the front of the plane but it was a mass of roaring flames and exploding ammunition so it was impossible to approach. The fire brigade and ambulance arrived which picked up Frank but they were unaware that Hector was in the long grass until Frank told them so they had to go back to find him.

The ambulance took them to the stations sick quarters and Hector was later transferred to the RAF hospital at Ely having suffered three crushed vertebrae in his lower spine in addition to the head wound.

In the crash, Hectors natural curve in his spine had been knocked straight when the turret hit the ground. Hector was later told that a piece of armour plating that formed the gunners seat had a "dish" in it from the force of the descent.

Frank was treated for shock and after a week in the stations sick quarters, he was discharged, put on light duties and given fourteen days sick leave, However, before the fourteen days had elapsed, Frank had to fly again to make sure his nerve hadn't gone. It had! But he slowly regained his confidence.

Meanwhile, Hector later saw the WAAF again and was able to thank her. She had cleaned her uniform herself though Hector hoped she might have been issued with a new one! After that meeting, she was never seen again.

So what happened to her? We don't know but I am now trying to find out for Hector as he would dearly love to talk to her again. Hector tells me she had blonde hair and was well spoken but can't remember her name.

I have sent the story of the accident to UK and New Zealand radio and television. I was interviewed by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Solent and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Suffolk and recently Hector and I have also been interviewed by National Radio, Radio New Zealand, in the hope that they can also help to trace this WAAF.

This is where I need your help. Does anyone know who she is?

After a long spell in hospital due to the injuries he had suffered, Hector was re-assigned to ground duties back at Stradishall. Meanwhile, Frank was posted to RAF Oulton in Norfolk flying as an air gunner in American built Fortresses where he experienced further dramatic events and survived 3 more crews.

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