The History of 625 Squadron Losses
05.03.1945 No. 426 Squadron RCAF Halifax VII NP793 OW-H F/O. Humphrey Stanley Watts

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 Humphrey 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

© 2004-2024 John Albrecht