Vickers Wellington HZ251
5.6 miles away
West Yorkshire
Halifax area Halifax Memorial
Halifax area, West Yorkshire
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
It is maintained by Calderdale Council.
Type
Memorial stone
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Halifax area, West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire
what3words: ///clap.tries.long
What Happened
On the morning of 7 February 1944, Flight Lieutenant Hodson -- an experienced and decorated instructor pilot -- took his trainee crew up from Rufforth for a daytime training flight. The weather was appalling: total cloud covered the Yorkshire Wolds down to ground level. At 10:15 hours, flying blind, the Halifax struck the summit of Garrowby Hill at around 800 feet, one of the highest points on the A166 road between York and the coast. The aircraft crossed the road and exploded. At that precise moment, Arthur Kirkby was driving his milk collection lorry along the road on his rounds to the surrounding farms. The Halifax struck the lorry, killing Kirkby instantly alongside all seven airmen. Hodson, who held the Distinguished Flying Cross from operational service, was 30 years old -- the two youngest crew members, gunners McDonald and Booker, were both 19. One crew member initially survived the impact but died later in York Hospital. The regular bomb aimer, Alun Emlyn-Jones, had been taken off the flight that morning due to an erupting appendix -- a twist of fate that saved his life and drove him, decades later, to campaign for a permanent memorial.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.
Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Halifax
Serial Number
DK192
Squadron
1663 Heavy Conversion Unit
Station
RAF Rufforth
Date of Loss
1944-02-07
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Flew into hilltop in 10/10ths cloud; struck road and milk lorry
Crew (9 members)
About the Crew
F/Lt Alfred John Shirley Hodson DFC(age 30)Pilot (Instructor)DFC
Killed when Halifax DK192 struck the summit of Garrowby Hill in total cloud cover. Hodson was an experienced instructor pilot who held the Distinguished Flying Cross from operational service.
An experienced and decorated instructor pilot, Hodson held the DFC from operational service. At 30, he was the eldest of the crew.
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Calderdale Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Halifax Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Calderdale Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
Aircrew RememberedRetrieved 2026-03-24
Page for Fl/Lt Alfred John Shirley Hodson DFC and crew of Halifax DK192, 1663 HCU RAF Rufforth. On 7 February 1944, the aircraft flew into the summit of Garrowby Hill in total cloud cover, also killing civilian milk lorry driver Arthur Kirkby.
What you'll find: Poignant tribute to Fl/Lt Alfred John Shirley Hodson and crew's Halifax DK192 tragedy at Rufforth.
Hodson held the DFC from operational service and was aged 30. Regular bomb aimer Alun Emlyn-Jones was removed from the flight due to an erupting appendix, saving his life. He later campaigned for the memorial. One crew member initially survived but died in York Hospital.
IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23
Imperial War Museum register entry for the Halifax DK192 memorial on Garrowby Hill. Granite memorial stone erected through the efforts of Alun Emlyn-Jones, the surviving crew member.
What you'll find: Halifax Memorial: Granite tribute honoring crew member's dedication at Garrowby Hill.
Memorial reference 35102. Dedicated 8 May 1996. Located in a lay-by on the A166, Garrowby Hill, approximately 6 miles east of Stamford Bridge.
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Online listing for the Halifax DK192 memorial at Garrowby Hill. Documents the granite memorial stone and crew details.
What you'll find: Explore Halifax area's detailed Halifax Memorial documentation on War Memorials Online.
Memorial reference 254705. Lists all seven crew and civilian Arthur Kirkby. Publicly accessible from the A166 roadside.
Yorkshire AircraftRetrieved 2026-03-23
Yorkshire Aircraft database entry for Halifax DK192. Provides detailed crash timeline and circumstances, noting the 10/10ths cloud cover and the aircraft's collision with both the hilltop and the milk lorry on the A166.
What you'll find: Explore Halifax Memorial details on Yorkshire Aircraft website: comprehensive crash timeline, weather conditions, and impact specifics.
Crash at 10:15 hours. Aircraft crossed the road and caught fire. Milk lorry driver Arthur Wood Kirkby killed. Unit was 1663 HCU, not 1663 as sometimes misquoted.
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Aircrew Remembered (retrieved 2026-03-24)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Yorkshire Aircraft (retrieved 2026-03-23)
York Stories (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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