F/Sgt (Pilot) R M Buck (Service Nš 1378810) was killed in Handley Page Halifax II JN966 NA-V of 428 (RCAF) Sqn, which collided with Lancaster III ED417 of 103 Sqn near RAF Middleton-St-George on November 26th 1943.
Two members of the Lancaster crew were Navigator Sgt J K Cubey, remembered on the West Hartlepool Pillars, W111.55 and its pilot F/O R W Brevitt, M46.02 who was married to Margaret Hill Brevitt from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Halifax II JN966, Contract No 124357/40, requisition HA1/E11/39. LPTB (LAPG) (250 aircraft). Deliveries commenced July 1943 (JN882). B/GR Mk II JN882-296, JN 941-978, JP107-137, JP159-207, JP220-259, JP275-301, JP319-338.
No 428 Squadron (B) Codes: AL Canadian Based at Leeming and converted from Wellingtons to B Mk V Halifaxes in June 1943; these were supplemented by B Mk II's in November. Began conversion to B Mk III's in January 1944 but suspended due to impending conversions to Lancasters. Last Halifax operational mission in March.
Sources: The Handley Page Halifax Kenneth A. Merrick Aston Publications ISBN 0946627608 1990
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1943;W.R. Chorley; 1996; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 90 3 pages 403 and 405
Acknowledgments: Simon Glancey; James Pasby
Robert Moscrop Buck is remembered at Alnwick on A11.17, A11.53 and in Whittingham on W48.02
A Roll of Honour on which F/Sgt. Buck's name appears
Bomber Command Museum 428 Squadron
The CWGC entry for Flight Sergeant Buck
