Handley Page Halifax JD386
1.2 miles away
Lincolnshire
Elsham Wolds — Black Swan Memorial (Halifax JD386)
The Black Swan Memorial
Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
Memorial at former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield.
Type
Memorial at airfield
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
RAF Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms and Garden, Middle Gate Lane, Elsham, DN20 0PH
Located on the old airfield site, now owned by Anglian Water. Protected by a high fenced compound with controlled access gate. The memorial is inside the compound, maintained by volunteers of the RAF Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms and Garden.
what3words: ///sketching.covenants.townhouse
What Happened
Flying from their station at Elsham Wolds, the crew of Halifax JD386 were undertaking a training sortie with 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit when the aircraft crashed on 29 February 1944. Pilot Officer Johann Sigurdson commanded a crew of seven drawn from Canada, Britain, and the United States. The Halifax came down at Elsham Wolds in Lincolnshire, and there were no survivors. All seven men were killed, among them Flight Engineer Sergeant Robert Thomas Garth Loughrin, who was just 20 years old.
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
JD386
Squadron
1666 HCU
Station
Elsham Wolds
Date of Loss
1944-02-29
Crew (7 members)
About the Crew
P/O Johann SigurdsonPilot
From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Son of Sigurthor and Maria Osk Sigurdson, husband of Mary Eileen Sigurdson, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The only Icelandic-born bomber pilot killed in WW2. Sigurdson Peninsula in Manitoba was named in his honour in 1995.
Sgt Robert Thomas Garth Loughrin(age 20)Flight Engineer
From Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Son of Joseph G. Loughrin and Maude E. Loughrin, of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Grave inscription: "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus".
F/O George Lindley Muskett(age 31)Navigator
From Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Son of Henry Joseph Salisbury Muskett and Winifred Janet Muskett, husband of Joan Elizabeth Muskett, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
F/O John Burgess Eaton(age 30)Air Bomber
From Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Son of Charles Edward and Margaret Lydia Eaton, of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Grave inscription: "Till The Sunshine Of To-Morrow Lifts The Shadows Of To-Day".
W/O 1 Joseph M. Healey(age 33)Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
From USA
Son of Thomas R. Healey and Catherine Healey, of the USA. Grave inscription: "Jesus Have Mercy On Him Mary And Joseph Pray For Him".
Sgt Francis Elvin Wilt(age 22)Air Gunner
From Stelcam, Saskatchewan, Canada
Son of Elvin Edward and Selena Mabel Wilt, of Stelcam, Saskatchewan, Canada. Wilt Lake in Saskatchewan was named in his honour. Grave inscription: "Among Honored Comrades Our Son 'Rest On Thy Duty Done' From His Home In Canada".
Sgt Peter Zayets(age 23)Air Gunner
From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Son of Alexander and Maria Zayets, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Zayets Lake was named in his honour in 1974. His brother, Sgt Stephen Zayets (R/56703 RCAF), was also killed — on 14 July 1943 with 428 Squadron, buried in Florennes Communal Cemetery, Belgium. Grave inscription: "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son And Brother Peter".
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Elsham Parish Council
Memorial at former RAF Elsham Wolds airfield.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
RAF Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms and Gardenvolunteer group
Maintains the Black Swan Memorial and memorial rooms on the former airfield site
Great Grimsby Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Elsham Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Elsham Parish CouncilParish Council
Forwarded enquiry to Elsham Wolds Memorial contact (April 2026)
Further Reading
Aircrew RememberedRetrieved 2026-03-24
Comprehensive page on P/O Johann Sigurdson and crew of Halifax JD386. All seven crew (six RCAF, one RAFVR) were killed when the aircraft crashed near Wressle on 29 February 1944. They were buried with full military honours at Harrogate Cemetery on 8 March 1944.
What you'll find: Detailed information about P/O Johann Sigurdson and Halifax JD386 crew's tragic crash site at Elsham Wolds Memorial.
Sigurdson was the only Icelandic bomber pilot killed in WW2. Sigurdson Peninsula in Manitoba was named in his honour in 1995. His wife was Mary Eileen Sigurdson of Winnipeg. This was the first major accident from 1666 HCU since June 1943.
North Lincs WebRetrieved 2026-03-23
Entry from the RAF Elsham Wolds memorial database documenting the loss of Halifax JD386 from 1666 HCU RAF Wombleton. Aircraft crashed at Bridge Farm, Broughton at 17:10 hours during a training flight.
What you'll find: Detailed records on the tragic crash of Halifax JD386 in Elsham Wolds Memorial database.
Aircraft crashed at Bridge Farm, Broughton. Unit was 1666 HCU based at RAF Wombleton, not Elsham Wolds itself. Crash time recorded as 17:10 hours.
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Aircrew Remembered (retrieved 2026-03-24)
North Lincs Web (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph (website)
Stuart Altoft — RAF Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms volunteer (personal_correspondence)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
With thanks to
Stuart Altoft — Photo and memorial details — RAF Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms and Garden volunteer
Last updated 2026-04-09
Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.
Suggest a correction or addition