On the night 8th November 1944, Halifax LK901 took off from Sandtoft, Lincs, on a night cross-country training exercise. At around 2355 hrs the aircraft broke up in mid air after the pilot lost control in cumulus nimbus clouds and came down in the area of Glenshee Post Office, Glenshee. An investigation into the loss of the aircraft by the RAF found no evidence to indicate defects in engine or airframe prior to break up. Two fuel tanks burnt on impact. They concluded that the aircraft disintegrated due to uploading in cu cloud when aircraft was out of control. Severe static had been experienced for about one hour prior to break up.

	Glenshee ~ Photos L Druce

Six of the seven men onboard were Australian and were taken to Montrose Sleepyhillock Cemetery for burial. The Flight Engineer, 19 year old F/Sgt Walter PICTON (3000833) RAFVR, son of Sydney and Nellie Florence Picton of Ponders End, Enfield was buried in Enfield, Hertford Road Cemetery.

The Australians onboard were:
F/O Arthur Wallace SPENCER-MAGGS (439657) RAAF age 24. Born in Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia son of Arthur Wallace and Adelade Newton Portia Spencer-Maggs. Prior to joining the RAAF he had lived in Hamilton, NSW and worked as an engineer. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in Newcastle, Australia.

P/O William Alexander EDMONDS (19882) RAAF age 26. Born in Clear Lake, Via Horsham, Victoria, Australia son of William Thomas and Eva Matilda Edmonds, husband of Winifred May Edmonds. Prior to joining the RAAF he had lived in Clear Lake, Victoria and worked as a farmer. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in Natimuk, Australia.

F/Sgt Arthur Wallace COOKE (1510) RAAF age 33. Born in Harrington, Manchester, England son of Henary and Ada Cooke, husband of Harriet Cooke. Prior to joining the RAAF he worked in South Yarra, Victoria as a sheet metal draughtsman. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in Melbourne, Australia.

F/Sgt Jeffrey James GRIEVE (419307) RAAF age 26. Born Armadale, Victoria, Australia son of George William and Minnie Grieve. Prior to joining the RAAF he worked as a baker and bread carter in McKinnon, Victoria. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in McKinnon, Victoria.

F/Sgt Keith Edward JEFFREY (38363) RAAF age 24. Born Bunbury, Western Australia son of Alexander Harold and Edith May Jeffrey. Prior to joining the RAAF he worked as a carpenter and joiner in Bunbury, Western Australia. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in Bunbury WA.

F/Sgt Charles Bede MACKAY (439896) RAAF age 19. Born in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia son of Francis and Florence MacKay. Prior to joining the RAAF he worked as a shipping clerk in Balmain, NSW. Buried in Montrose, Sleepyhillock Cemetery his name is also on the Roll of Honour in Balmain, NSW.

Wreckage hidden under rocks, paintwork well	preserved. Photos; L Druce

I visited the area where this Halifax crashed in May 2005 with Andy O. Very few remains were to be found. Those that were had been hidden amongst boulders on a craggy hillside which had preserved the paintwork on some of the small pieces that we located.

Graves of the six Australians at Sleepyhillock ~ Photo: I Edwards