On 12th June 1943, residents living in the Massey Avenue area of Stormont in East Belfast received a shock when a military plane came down in the area.
Queens University Air Squadron in Belfast operated De Havilland Tiger Moth X5045. Flying Officer Douglas Williams (J/15206) took off from R.A.F. Sydenham on the morning of the crash. The Canadian pilot, serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 410 Squadron, had joined R.A.F. No. 1480 Flight based at Newtownards Airfield, Co. Down on 17th May 1943. The following day, he received a posting to R.A.F. Sydenham. Also in the Tiger Moth was Lieutenant George Leslie Werts of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
At around 1545hrs on 12th June 1943, the plane ran into difficulties, stalled, and dived into the ground at Stormont. Both crew members on board the plane died as a result of the incident, the aircraft itself written off as damaged beyond repair. The graves of both Flying Officer Douglas Williams and Lieutenant George Leslie Werts are in Belfast City Cemetery.