Bomber Command Memorial Register

Balkholme (1) Halifax Memorial

Balkholme (1), East Riding of Yorkshire

Partial Record
Approximate location?

Help us verify this location. This memorial's position is not yet precisely confirmed. If you have local knowledge, photographs, or documentary evidence of the exact site, we'd love to hear from you.

Location

Balkholme (1), East Riding of Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire

what3words: ///snowy.trailer.reliving

Aircraft & Operation Details

578 Squadron badgeAccuracy
Aircraft Type
Halifax
Serial Number
LK834
Squadron
578 Squadron
Station
Burn
Date of Loss
1944-07-21

Crew

7 killed including pilot Plt Off. William Davidson

Memorial Details

Type
Physical memorial with plaque

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Balkholme Parish Meeting

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Goole & Howden Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Balkholme Parish Meetingparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

Yorkshire AircraftRetrieved 2026-03-23

Halifax LK834 (coded LK-E) of 578 Squadron collided mid-air with Halifax MZ696 (coded LK-K) at 2,000 feet while returning from a raid on synthetic oil refineries at Bottrop on 21 July 1944. Both aircraft crashed near Gate House Farm, Balkholme at 03:15 hours, killing all fourteen crew.

Collision at 2,000 feet during return from BottropLK834 coded LK-ECrashed near Gate House Farm14 total killed across both aircraft578 Squadron lost 6 aircraft that night

578 Squadron AssociationRetrieved 2026-03-23

The 578 Squadron website documents the Balkholme mid-air collision and the memorial erected to commemorate the crews of both Halifax bombers lost that night.

26 Halifaxes from 578 Sqn attacked Bottrop that nightSix aircraft lost during the raid

IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23

The IWM records the memorial to the 578 Squadron airmen of the Balkholme mid-air collision, describing the distinctive memorial featuring a sculpture of two colliding Halifax bombers atop a curved steel pipe with squadron badge and crew names.

IWM memorial reference 99079Memorial features sculpture of two colliding HalifaxesCurved black-enamelled steel pipe design

Sources

  • Geograph(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
Yorkshire Aircraft (retrieved 2026-03-23)
578 Squadron Association (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

Balkholme (2) Halifax Memorial
Balkholme (2), East Riding of YorkshireHalifax1944-07-21
0 m
away
Pocklington Lancaster Memorial
Pocklington, East Riding of YorkshireLancaster1943-11-26
20.9 km
away
Garrowby Hill area aircraft Memorial
Garrowby Hill area, Pennines (North)Various Bomber Command aircraftWW2
29.0 km
away
Hull Bridge (1) Halifax Memorial
Hull Bridge (1), East Riding of YorkshireHalifax1943-08-24
30.2 km
away
Hull Bridge (2) Halifax Memorial
Hull Bridge (2), East Riding of YorkshireHalifax1943-08-24
30.2 km
away

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