Aircrew Memorial St Edward's Church, Leek Staffordshire

Continued. AIRCREW MEMORIAL, ST EDWARD'S CHURCH LEEK, STAFFORDSHIRE 1939 1945

Vickers Wellington Mk III Z1744 No. 27 Operational Training Unit, RAF Lichfield Staffordshire
The aircraft were based at RAF Church Broughton was a Bomber Command training station located in Derbyshire, It was built in 1942 and used as a satellite station for the Wellingtons of 27 Operational Training Unit

Take out some snippets
At 0803 hours on the 20 November 1942, Wellington Z1744 took off from Lichfield detailed to carry out a combined bombing and photographic exercise. Fairly early in the flight, the aircraft was approached by two Spitfires reportedly from an American Unit, one passing so close that it took away the trailing aerial, and rendered the radio equipment unserviceable. At approximately 1410 hours eyewitnesses on the ground saw the aircraft flying low over some factory buildings near Leek in Staffordshire, and then to their horror, it smashed into high ground at a place known locally as Hen Cloud

Crashed nr. Upper Hulme (Locally known as the Roaches) 20 November 1942 All except one the rear gunner who was injured, the others died at the scene

BARLOW James Robert Flight Sergeant401882 R.A.A.F
Born at Carrum Victoria 12 November 1920 to Maurice and Dorothy Lambourne, East Malvern Victoria, Australia. Died aged 22 years. At rest in St Stephen Churchyard Fradley Staffordshire

Notes from what is available of his service records which are in relation to the accident. No actual service records are available.
Enlisted 26 April 1941, embarked for England 1 September 1941.

Extract from Court of Inquiry into the flying accident. Held at RAF Lichfield 19 December 1942 by order of Group Captain C.E. Horrex (Charles Edward Horrex).

Accident occurred near Roach House, Upper Hulme near Leek, Staffordshire (The area where this aircraft crashed in locally known as The Roaches.)
The inquiry wanted to know the purpose of and instructions for the flight were as follows. Who ordered the flight and for what purpose? Were any special instructions given? State if one occupant was instructing the other.
Reply. Pilot Officer Jarman for Flight Commander. Instruction given to carry out photographic exercise en route and bombing on return range. Pilot was flying solo. (No 2nd pilot)

The aircraft took off at 1050 hrs. Visibility was poor at the time of take-off and also at the time of the accident. Cloud was partially covering hills on which aircraft crashed.
The investigating officer considered it was not necessary to visit the scene of the accident, as the aircraft was completely destroyed. No technical defect is suspected to have been in any way a contribution to the accident. No attempt was made by any member of the crew to use a parachute.

The cause of the accident in the opinion of the investigating officer was due to the pilot descending below cloud in order to try to obtain his bearings when he was lost. It is considered that the unauthorised attack by American spitfires contributed to the aircraft becoming lost, although the wireless operator should still have been able to get bearing without his trailing aerial.

Their route was from Base (Church Broughton), Cottesmore, Catterick, Goole, Debdon, Bassingbourne, Cannock, and return to base. Time 10-30an to 15-30hrs. The aircraft actually took off at 09-15.

Statement of the first person at the scene was Wing Commander, Senior Medical Officer, 23138 Thomas Drostan Lawson BOLAN, No 51 Group RAF.
The following extract is his full statement.
“While parked at the roadside at 14.15 hours approximately on 20th November 1942, an aircraft passed overhead proceeding in a northerly direction at a height of approximately 200 feet, a dense fog being present. As I realised that the hilly ground was in the vicinity to the north, I felt that an accident was imminent. I started up my car and proceeded along the road for about two miles. Whilst driving along, I hears what I thought to be an explosion and eventually saw some cottagers out in the road looking up in the direction of the hillside. I stopped my car and ascertained from the cottagers that they had also heard a crash and explosion. One of the cottagers guided me up the hillside. On arrival at the scene of the crash, I found one airman severely shocked and doubts as to a fractured spine arose. I rendered first aid treatment to him and supervised his transfer to hospital. The other occupants of the aircraft were dead, having received multiple injuries and subsequent burning. The fog belt extended approximately 15 miles in a north to south direction, commencing near Leek and extending to Buxton”.
Signed T.D.L. Bolan W/Cdr. Dated 20.12.42

Statement of survivor Sergeant Air Gunner 416411 Kenneth Spencer CHEEK

Full extract
“ I am employed as an air gunner in Sgt Barlow’s crew in ‘B’ Flight at Church Broughton, Satellite of 27 O.T.U. Lichfield. In the morning of the 20th November 1942, our crew was detailed to carry out a cross country flight from Church Broughton over the following route:- Base – Debden – Goole – Bassingbourne – Cannock – Base, and to carry out bombing at Cannock Chase Bombing Range on return. At 10.50 hours the pilot took off and we commenced our cross country flying above the cloud at about 2000 feet. I noticed that the visibility generally was poor owing to thick haze. The horizontal visibility was about 3000 yds. The vertical visibility was reasonable.

After flying for about an hour and half I hears the pilot say to the navigator that we were well on track and well on E.T.A. I heard the wireless operator remark that he was getting his (Code) Q.D.M’s (Magnetic bearing to a station) through well up to the time when we were attacked by two Spitfires of the American Army Air Corps. This incident occurred shortly after I had eaten my rations and I estimate roughly about tow hours after take-off. I told the pilot there were two Spitfires practicing attacks on our tail and I trained my guns on them. The pilot kept on a straight and lever course. Ten minutes later after the Spitfires had broken off their attacks, I heard the wireless operator remark that his set was not working properly and he was going to have a look at the trailing aerial. This remark draw my attention to the fact that the trailing aerial was missing. I had previously been able to see it out of the turrets. The wireless operator came to the rear and discovered that the trailing aerial was broken off about 2 feet from the pulley attachment. He told the pilot that the aerial was missing and subsequently he seemed to have difficulty in working the set. One crew told the bomb aimer he could prove his mettle by getting a pin point. As we were still flying above 10/10 cloud, the pilot decided to come down to about 500 feet and started to follow a main road hoping to come to a more definite land mark. We did not stay at 500 feet the whole time, but where the weather permitted it, we came up higher to the cloud base. Owing to poor visibility the captain and bomb aimer decided to return to base and not attempt any bombing. The last thing I remember, was seeing the road we were following just below; and I knew no more until I woke up in hospital.
Signed K.S. Cheek.

Church Broughton, Satellite RAF Base. It was built in 1942 and used as a satellite station for the Wellingtons of 27 Operational Training Unit based at nearby RAF Lichfield.

BAKER William John. Flight Sergeant 405670 R.A.A.F
Born 2 November 1921 to John Henry and Janet, Mackay, Queensland.
Died aged 21 years. At rest in St Stephen Churchyard Fradley, Staffordshire.

Some notes from his service records.
Joined the RAAF Reserve at R.5882 11 November 1940 at No 3A Mobile Unit, Mackay. The 24 May 1941 he joined the RAAF at No 3 Recruitment Centre, Brisbane. Queensland as Aircraftman Class 2 405670 and posted the same day to No 3 Initial Training School, Kingaroy Queensland.
19 September 1941 at No 1 Air Observation School Cootamundra, New South Wales.
13 December 1941 at No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, RAAF Evans Head New South Wales
9 March 1942 at No 1 Air Observation School, Parkes, N.S.W.
17 April 1942 at No 3 Embarkation Depot Sandgate in Brisbane transferred 20 April 1942 to
No 3 Embarkation Depot Bradfield Park, N.S.W.
16 May 1942 embarked for England and on disembarkation 15 August 1942 taken to No 3 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre RAAF Bournemouth Dorset to await dispersal to his unit.
31 August 1942 posted to No 1 Observer Advanced Flying Unit RAF Wigtown.
28 September 1942 after he had completed his training he was posted to No 27 Operational Training Unit, RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire, but based at RAF Church Broughton (Satellite Base) Derbyshire.

BUCKLEY Howell James Flight Sergeant (W.Op Air/Gnr) R.A.F
Born 1920. Husband of Dilys May of Pontypridd. Died aged 22 years. At rest in Glyntaff Cemetery Pontypridd Glam, Wales

PETTIFORD Keith Flying Officer 411374 R.A.A.F
Born 15 February 1915 to son of Henry Augustine Ellen Scott Pettiford, Willoughby New South Wales. Died aged 27 years. At rest in St Stephen churchyard Fradley Staffordshire. Row c Grave 1
Service record not available on line.



LOVE James Flying Officer 414051 R.A.A.F
Born 15 March 1909 to Harold William (Lt Col) and Elsie Mary Love, nee Rice of Ormiston, Queensland.
Notes from his service records.
Enlisted 20 July 1941 aged 32 years and 4 months at No 3 Recruiting Centre, Brisbane, occupation bank clerk.
16 June 1942 he embarked Sydney for attachment with the RAF. Disembarking in England 20 August 1942. He along with his unit were sent to No 3 Personnel Despatch and Receiving Centre RAAF, Bournemouth, Dorset. 19 September 1942 posted to No 1 ((O) AFU), (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit RAF Wigtown, Scotland. 29 September 1942 posted to No 27 Operational Training Unit, RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire, but based at RAF Church Broughton (Satellite Base) Derbyshire. Died aged 33 years. At rest in St Stephen Churchyard Fradley, Staffordshire

Master W8840 No.7 FPP, ATA Crashed nr Bottom house 15/1/43

TREVOR-WILLIAMS Patrick Morgan Flight Sergeant R.A.F
Crew of a Miles Master Mk.III W8840 crash near Bottom House, Leek, on the 15th January 1943 while being ferried by No.7 Ferry Pilots Pool
The aircraft was being ferried from Sherburn in Elmet, between Leeds and Selby, to No.5 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Ternhill near Market Drayton in Shropshire. The pilot encountered un-forecast bad weather in the Buxton – Leek – Ashbourne area and shortly after flew into the ground at Bottom House.


Wellington R1598 Crashed 30/1/43
BUTTERLEY Thomas Flight Sergeant(Nav) 1336746 R.A.F age 36. Son of Percy & Harriet Amelia, husband of Marjorie Grace, North End Portsmouth. At rest in Kingston Cemetery Portsmouth Hampshire Plot 56 (Haskell) Row 8 Grave 6

PRIEST Allan Flight Sergeant(Air Bomber) 1312544 R.A.F age 26. Adopted son of Mrs J Priest of Reading Berkshire. At rest in St Peter Church Cemetery Stoke upon Tern Shropshire


Oxford R6271 No.42 OTU, RAF Crashed at Waterhouses 21/5/43

FORSYTH Archibald Douglas Vincent P/O 403957 R.N.Z.A.F age 23. Son of Archibald William and Irene Nora (nee ODonoghue) Fraserstown Auckland NZ. At rest in Ashbourne Cemetery

HALESTRAP Harry Charles LAC 1521896 R.A.F. age 20. Son of Edith Halestrap Bishops Stortford. At rest in Bishops Stortford Old Cemetery Hartfordshire

SYLVESTER Harry Garnet Cpl 1157864 R.A.F At rest in Brookwood Military Cemetery Surrey 24.C.18

The aircraft had taken off for a short air test from Ashbourne. Along with the pilot, Flying Officer Archibald Forsyth of the RNZAF, were two passengers, both of whom were stationed at Ashbourne and were along to get a good view of the local area. The aircraft had been flying at low level in the area and eventually the pilot turned south along the Manifold valley. Shortly after doing this the aircraft struck high tension cables which cross the valley, the cables tore into the aircraft causing enough damage to immediately send the aircraft went of control. The Oxford crashed inverted onto the steep wooded valley side near Waterhouses and burst into flames killing all three onboard.

The three men were At rest in different cemeteries, F/O Forsyth was At rest in Ashbourne, Sylvester at Brookwood Military Cemetery and Halestrap was taken to Bishop’s Stortford. Below is a photograph of Corporal Sylvester’s grave at Brookwood, interestingly the Commonwealth War Graves Commission register records him as belonging to the RAF Volunteer Reserve but his headstone records him as regular RAF, though his service number is in a block which was issued to RAFVR NCOs. Also pictured is the grave of F/O Forsyth at Ashbourne.


Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V LA768 of 81 Operational Training Unit, R.A.F Whitchurch Heath, Shropshire. Crashed 31 January 1944 at Lower Southwood Farm. Dilhorne near Cheadle Staffordshire. Crew of five all except Flight Sergeant, Air Gunner Thomas H Weighman who was injured the others died.
The following credited to http://aircrewremembered.com/wilkinson-ian.html
Reason for loss.
On January 31st 1944 and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley from Whitchurch Heath, Shropshire, on a training exercise, crashed near Hardwick between Dilhorne and Caverswall. Of the five man crew only the rear gunner Tom Weightman survived. Following investigation it was concluded that the pilot had descended to determine his position and inadvertently flown into the rising ground. It was reported that the aircraft crashed about 8.30 an and caught fire. After escaping from the aircraft F/Sgt Thomas Weightman walked to a nearby mine to raise the alarm. Dilhorne and Caverswall both appear to have been accident black spots for aircraft during the 1940s and 1950s. One possible explanation is the higher ground that surrounds the area. Between 1942 and 1945 there were 5 air crashed in the locality.


WILKINSON Ian Leslie Pilot Sergeant 1238788 R.A.F Born 1919 at Carisle Cumberland
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Ian Leslie Wilkinson of Wharfedale Lodge Ilkley Yorkshire died on date stated on war service. Effects went to Ernest Waddilove company managing director
At rest in Southern Cemetery Nottingham

CUSWORTH John Frederick Flying Officer (Nav) 148746 R.A.F
Born 1912 at North Bierley, North Riding Yorkshire to Harry and Clara of Pudsey. Husband of Grace Edna, nee Bowen of Pudsey. He joined the air force as Leading Aircraftman 1397146. To be Pilot Officer on Probation (emergency) from 27 March 1943 London Gazetted dated 31 August 1943. Promoted to Flying Officer (war Subs) from 27 September 1943 London Gazette dated 31 December 1943. Died aged 31 years. Commemorated at Lawnswood Crematorium Leeds Screen Wall panel 1

BOURNE George Victor. Flight Sergeant (Air Bomber) 1395380 R.A.F Born 1923 at West Ham, London to Albert Ernest and Maud Penelope, Eastham Essex. Died aged 21 years. At rest in Whitchurch Cemetery Shropshire

ROBERTSON Andrew Harkes. Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op/Air gunner) 1133189 R.A.F.
Born 1913 at Edinburgh to George and Lizzie of Edinburgh. Died aged 30 years. At rest in Invernesk Parish Churchyard Midlothian Scotland.
Memorial have him named as Robinson A H

Handley Page Halifax Mk.II BB320 / A2 of No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire. The crew of six all died at the scene 7 February 1944
Accident report from the records Hubert Lloyd Kerr R.C.A.F.
7 February 1944, Cellarhead at 1830 hrs. Non operational night training cross country training. Plane took off at 1751 hrs 7 February 1944. No communication was received from the aircraft at all. No 1. Group Headquarters informed their base that A2 had crashed near Cheadle Staffordshire and that all the crew were killed. Duration of flight 50 minutes. The cause of the crash was obscured. No technical defects were found by Engineer Officer investigating the of the accident. The plane had crashed on land of Blakeley Lane Farm, near Cellar Head. Staffordshire. The farm was owned by Mrs A Clowes who found later at the scene a wristwatch and a set of keys which he handed into RAF Cheadle. His aircraft was seen coming out of a rain cloud out of control and crash into the ground and burst into flames.

Other research.
Crashed at Blakeley Lane Farm, adjacent to Blakeley Lane Chapel, about one mile from Cellarhead and about 2 miles from Cheadle Staffordshire on the A52, 7 February 1944. The crash was witnessed by two local lads Bernard Dale aged 11 at the time and Peter Capewell. Peter who was aged 13 at the time saw the plane spiralling down to earth where it crashed in a field. Local people ran to the crash to help only to find except for the rear gunner who was mortally wounded, all dead.

RICHARDS Ernest Charles David. Flying Officer 125875 R.A.F of 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire.
Born 1918 Ryde Isle of Wight to Ernest Edward and Susan Charlotte Richards, nee Sargeant of Clay Hall Gosport Hampshire. 1939 his widowed mother was residing at 65 Park Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight Wills and Admin, Ancestry gave his abode at 2 Admiralty Cottages, Clay Hall and his widowed mother received his effects. Died aged 27 years. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester Cheshire

MURRAY Kenneth Flight Sergeant (Nav) 1559341 R.A.F 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire. Born 1921 to Thomas Henry and Minnie Murray, nee Temple of Darlington, County Durham. Died aged 23 years. At rest in Darlington West Cemetery Durham.

KERR Hubert Lloyd Flying Officer (Nav/Bomber) J/27159 RCAF attached to No.1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire.
Born 16 June 1915 to Wilbur Edmund and Phoebe Kerr (later Mowbray) of 47 Hogarth Avenue, Toronto Ontario Canada. Died aged 28 years. Total service served 2 years. He was laid to rest on Saturday 12th He was laid to rest Saturday 12th at 1300 hrs with full military service at Blacon Cemetery Chester Cheshire
Notes from his service records.
Joined up 30 October 1939 and posted to 11 Recruiting Centre, Toronto as aircrew. Civilian occupation Sales supervisor from 1940 to 1912 for Coca Cola Co
11 June 1943 received his Air Bomber Badge
8 July 1943 embarked from Canada for England disembarking 16 July 1943. Following day at Personnel Reception Centre. RCAF Bournemouth to await dispersal to his unit.
3 August 1943 posted to (3(O) AFU) No 3 (Observers) Advance Flying Unit RAF. Halfpenny Green
31 August at No 30 Operational Training Unit, No 93 Group
30 November 1943 posted to 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit
7 November 1944 he was killed with others in an aircraft accident at Blakeley Lane Farm, near Cheadle Staffordshire. The only means of identification was his identity disc which was seen by Medical Officer in charge of RAF Station, Wood Hall Cheadle who confirmed he died of multiple injuries and burns. ( RAF Cheadle Staffordshire, was Y Station, which were monitoring important enemy signals information. The main task was to intercept messages from German bombers and ground stations). His body was later taken to station sick quarters at RAF Lindholme.

DENNY Albert John Sergeant/Flt Engineer 1863320 R.A.F 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire.
Born 17 August 1915 to Charles Albert and Ellen Mary Denny, nee Coston of Tooting Surrey. Died aged 28 years. Wills and Admin, Ancestry. His abode was given as 50 Elmbourne Road, Tooting. His effects went to his father, carpenter and builder.
At rest in Streatham Cemetery Wandsworth London.

JOSHUA William Desmond. Flight Sergeant (W.Op/Air Gnr) 1419221 R.A.F. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire.
Born 1922 to John and Elizabeth A Joshua, nee Jones of Tondu Aberkenfig. 1939 his parents were residing at 26 Maesteg Road, Penybont, Glamorganshire
Wills and Admin, Ancestry. His abode was given as The Post Office,Tondu. His effects went to his father, poultry farmer. Died aged 22 years. At rest in Sarn Cemetery Glamorgan

COULING Herbert John Sergeant /Air Gnr 1582477 R.A.F of 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF Lindholme South Yorkshire.
Born 1923 to Herbert and Lily Rose, nee Dunkley of Lutterworth Leicestershire. 1939 his parents were residing at 43 Aiden Avenue, Blaby, Leicestershire.
He died aged 20 years. Commemorated at Blacon Cemetery Chester Cheshire.

Spitfire Mk Vb W3569 of 316 Squadron RAF Crashed at Bosley Cloud 21/3/44
KOWALSKI Zygmunt. Flight Sergeant, Pilot (RAF service No P/780689 Polish Air Force attached to 316 Squadron
Born 20 April 1921 at Radawnica Poland prior to WW2, Germany. Died aged 22. Death registered with Macclesfield Registery Office. At rest in Our Lady of Compassion Roman Catholic Churchyard, Formby, Lancashire
The pilot was on a training flight from RAF Woodvale near Southport when he suffered from engines trouble and attempted to force land but the aircraft crashed during the attempt and Sgt Kowalski was killed.
The field that the aircraft crashed in was later used as a temporary camp by US Army personnel and they left a large amount of detritus.

Wellington Mk III BJ 652 of No.27 Operational Training Unit RAF Lichfield Staffordshire. Crashed at Smearril nr. Youlgreave Derbyshire 21 January 1944

EDMONDS Lloyd George. Flight Sergeant 416941 R.A.A.F age 25. Born 9 November 1918 at Strathalbyn South Australia to Percy John and Edith Marion, 22 Hart Avenue Unley South Australia.
Notes for his service record.
Joined 18 December 1939 at Drill Hall Unley South Australia aged 21 years and 1 month into 3rd Field Ambulance as Private A545005. 24 September 1941 at Keswick, Queensland. he was transferred to 3rd Brigade Area pending enlistment in the RAAF. Enlisted in the RAAF 8 November 1941. He completed his pilots training 23 August 1942 at No 6 No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF Station Mallala, South Australia,
Extracts taken from accidents reports in his records.
He and the crew were detailed for a 6 hour night cross country flight exercise which was due to take off at 19.45. Their route was from Base, Haverhill, Pocklington, Goole, Bury St Edmunds, Melton Mowbray and Base.
The wireless operator had trouble with his radio which was not fixed until approximately 19.45. The crew were told that a cold front would affect the northern part of the route. The route was altered slightly eliminating the leg to Peebles which reduced the length of the exercise to about three and half miles. The aircraft took off at 20.17. Communication between RAF Lichfield and the aircraft were fine, last transmission from the aircraft was a giving his position as Gainsborough at 21.39 hrs. 23.30 RAF Lichfield called the aircraft but no reply. No more was heard until a crash reported 12 miles from Ashbourne (Derbyshire), which, later 23.50 hrs was reported to be “Z”/B Flight. At midnight flying conditions were good for flying. Cloud 2000’ via 5 miles, wind in runway fairly strong. There was no evidence to show why the pilot was flying at such a low altitude. It appeared that the pilot knowing he was approaching base lost height and due to possible faulty instrument flying descended too low. Since there seems to have been no navigational or wireless transmission troubles it was possible the pilot descended on his own initiative without consulting the navigator as to his exact position. He crashed into the side of a hill 700 feet above (M.S.L.) mean sea level.
At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester

BARNES William Thomas Flight Sergeant 30581 R.A.A.F age 27. Son of Francis James and Queenie Kate. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester S

KYDD James Flight Sergeant 426621 R.A.A.F age 26. Son of William and Williamina husband of Mary Thelma of Winnum Queensland Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester

MURTON Thomas Dudley Flight Sergeant 430628 R.A.A.F age 19. Son of Dudley Arthur Murray Murton and Ethel Mary Murton, Tatura Victoria Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester

PERRETT Keith Jobson Flight Sergeant 434608 R.A.A.F age 27. Son of Ernest Alfred and Annie Brisbane Queensland Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester

DESHON Frederick Popham Flight Sergeant 426555 R.A.A.F age 27. Son of Arthur Popham Deshon and Violet Brenda of Brisbane. Husband of Betty Phyllis of Ascot Queensland Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester
The crew of 6 Australians were flying a 3.5 hour night cross country flight from RAF Church Broughton near Derby, a satellite to No.27 OTU’s main base at Lichfield. Their route, covering nearly 500 miles, was Church Broughton – Haverhill (Suffolk) – Pocklington (East Yorkshire) – Goole (East Yorkshire) – Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) – Melton Mowbray (Rutland) and return to Church Broughton. Originally their route was to have taken them as far north as Peebles in the Scottish borders but expected bad weather meant this leg was removed from the plan.

Initially the crew were not assigned to fly BJ652, but their primary aircraft (coded K) was declared as unserviceable due to an oil leak so they switched to BJ652. The W/T equipment that was fitted to BJ652 was also faulty and this had to be repaired before the crew could depart. This delayed their take off from a planned 17:30 until 20:17.

The flight then proceeded normally with the the first legs of the flight being recorded in the W/T log on board the aircraft. At 21:40 Lichfield transmitted a message instructing the crew to return by 23:00 as the weather front affecting Scotland was expected to arrive across northern England around 23:30. At around the same time the crew had recorded their position as 2 miles East of Gainsborough on the north bound leg to Pocklington.

At around 21:55, with the aircraft in the Goole area, the crew turned for base. Approximately 15 minutes later an aircraft that was presumed by the RAF to be BJ652 was observed by the Royal Observer Corps positions on the edge of Sheffield and at Baslow heading in a South Westerly direction at about 2,000 feet.

Shortly after this the aircraft crashed at Smerril a few miles SW of Bakewell, the aircraft had flown into a rock outcrop and was completely destroyed

The Court of Inquiry concluded that the aircraft was approximately on course and that the flight was proceeding normally with the crew regularly obtaining radio position fixes with QDMs from various stations, including one from Lichfield a minute before the crash. They were always close to on course, even at the time of the crash. The low altitude of the aircraft was put down to the pilot knowing that they were approaching the base and began to descend but may also have had a faulty altimeter. The change in air pressure that had occurred during the flight would have meant the altimeter would have over read by some 90 feet.

It was also recorded that the expected weather conditions that lead to the recall of flights had not developed fully by midnight and conditions were still good for flying.

Continued.

Stirling LK502 No.1654 HCU, RAF Heavy Conversion Unit Crashed at Cliffe Park Rudyard 27/5/44. 4 crew survived Crew of 8, 4 injured but survived.

LEECH Gordon Noble F/O Pilot 159456 R.A.F age 23. Son of James and Janet Noble Leech Newcastle upon Tyne. Commemorated at West Road Crematorium Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland Panel 5

FINE Bernard David Flight Sergeant419304 R.A.A.F age 20. Son of Myer and Lilian Miriam of Malvern Victoria Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Chester Cheshire

WARD Harry Flight SergeantAir Gnr 1768223 R.A.F age 20. Son of Charles and Annie of Yeadon. At rest in Yeadon Cemetery Aireborough Yorkshire.

HOWES Charles David Flight Sergeant Air Gnr 1814315 R.A.F age 19. Son of John George and Alice Violet of Forest Hill. Buried and commemorated at Camberwell New Cemetery London. Square

The crew were on a night cross country exercise from RAF Wigsley, with one of the objectives being to take a night photogaph of the Menai Bridge between Bangor and Anglesey. During the flight the aircraft began to loose power and the crew started to abandon the aircraft, though only some had left the aircraft before it crashed.

Of the four survivors, three were later killed on active service they were Frederick Thomas James Nicholls Flight Sergeant Flight Engineer. Geoffrey Norman Wise Flight Sergeant Navigator and Arthur C. Brett Flight Sergeant Flight Engineer The remaining survivor of the crash and war was
D. C. Watson Flight Sergeant Bomb Aimer


Hurrican V6793 No.5 (P)AFU, RAF Crashed at Merryton nr. Leek 27/7/44

MARTIN Roswell Howard Tourle Flight SergeantPilot 42744 R.N.Z.A.F age 19. Son of Thomas and Ada Mary of Otumoetai Auckland New Zealand. At rest in Blacon Cemetery Cheshire
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I V6793 of No.5 (P)AFU dived into the ground at Merryton near Leek, on the 27th July 1944 while flying from Tern Hill on an aerobatics and sector reconnaissance exercise

Roswell Howard Tourle Martin Flight Sergeant RNZAF Pilot Killed


Oxford HN429 No.11 (P)AFU, RAF Crashed at Axe Edge, Buxton 3/11/44

MAYHEAD Charles Victor Flying Officer, Pilot Instructor Royal Air Force Injured

NULLEN Albert Craig Flying Officer Under Training, Royal Canadian Air Force, Injured

BEAN John Stewart Flying Officer, Observer, Royal Canadian Air Force, injured
Where not killed and all survived the war
On the 3rd November 1944 the crew of three boarded (including an instructor) HN429 for a Beam Approach training exercise from RAF Cranage in Cheshire where No.1531 Beam Approach Training Flight were stationed. Though this unit was itself a semi-autonomous detachment of No.11 (P)AFU from Calveley. At around 10:00am the trainee pilot lost his way and while trying to correct his error struck the gentle slope on the northern side of Axe Edge. The aircraft must have had a very gentle crash (if such an event can be gentle) as one the the aircraft’s wooden propellers was recovered by a member of the mountain rescue team from the RAF station at Harpur Hill, this was later donated to the now defunct Macclesfield Historical Aviation Society. The propeller is almost undamaged, normally during a crash these tended to shatter.

Lancaster NF908 No.467 Sqn, RAAF Crashed at The Roaches, Leek 3/1/45

ALLAMBY Walter Vernon Wilfred Flying Officer 428516 ,Royal Australian Air Force Killed aged 26. Son of Alfred Ernest and Ruby Frances Allamby of Millgrove, Victoria, Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

LEES Norman Flight SergeantEngineer 2218806, 467 Sqdn Royal Air Force attached to the Royal Australian Air Force killed age 19. Son of Fred and Dora Lees, of Oldham, Lancashire. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester Cheshire

PRITCHARD Jack Ivan Flight Lieutenant 421047 Royal Australian Air Force. Son of George and Lillian Grace Pritchard; husband of Catherine Mary Pritchard, of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester Cheshire

DUNBAR Geoffrey James Flight Sergeant 424391 Royal Australian Air Force
Killed aged 22. Son of James Coupland Dunbar and Pearl Violet Dunbar, of Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

EMONSON Richard Flight Sergeant 430484 Royal Australian Air Force
Killed age 21. Son of Keith Glanfield Emonson and Alice Muriel Emonson, of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

WRIGHT Thomas Edward Harold Flight Sergeant 430728 Royal Australian Air Force killed aged 24. Son of William John and Harriet Sarah Wright; husband of Norma Wright, of Kingsford, New South Wales, Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

WATSON Cleveland Charles Flight Sergeant 434547 Royal Australian Air Force
Killed age 23. Son of Harry and Mary Annetta Watson, of Glen Osmond, South Australia. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

The crew of NF908 had not been at No.467 Sqn for long, being posted in from No.5 Lancaster Finishing School in at the beginning of December 1944. Though from available records it would appear that most of the crew met at No.27 OTU at Lichfield in July 1944, though Sgt Lees, the sole RAF airman on the crew, would have joined them at No.1654 HCU or No.5 LFS.

At around 14:30 on the 3rd January 1945 the crew of Lancaster NF908 took off from RAF Waddington near Lincoln for a fighter affiliation exercise with an alternative of a 1 hour cross-country navigation exercise, should the weather have been deemed suitable. About 90 minutes into the flight with the sun almost set (sunset was 16:03) the aircraft descended through low cloud and snow showers and flew into the eastern side of the Roaches a few miles from the Staffordshire town of Leek and was completely destroyed by fire. Half an hour later, and just over 3 miles away, A-20G 43-9958 flew into the ground at Flash, also in snowy weather but in much poorer light. The previous evening B-17G 43-38944 had flown into Birchenough Hill which is within sight of where NF908 crashed (on a good day).

After the crash the site was buried by snow, which for several days hid the bodies of some members of the crew. By the 6th Jan all but F/Sgt Dunbar had been recovered by personnel from No.28 MU at Harpur Hill near Buxton.



Mosquito KB206 PFFNTU, RAF de Havilland Mosquito Mk.XX KB206 of the Pathfinder Navigation Training Unit, Crashed at Cheddleton Heath Staffordshire 2/3/45

ALBERTSON Arthur Ian Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) 80126 Royal Air Force
Killed aged 30 Son of Richard Wright Albertson and Elizabeth Albertson; husband of Rona Albertson (nee Johnson), of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. At rest in Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire Awarded the A.F.C

EATON Robert James Flight Sergeant 430960 Royal Australian Air Force
Killed aged 20. Son of James Bygrove Eaton and Selina Marjorie Eaton, of Albury, New South Wales, Australia. At rest in Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridgeshire

The two crew were undergoing training to be posted to one of the Bomber Command Pathfinder Squadrons at RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire. They had been briefed for a high level night cross-country navigation training exercise, this was to be flown at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

The aircraft, a Canadian built Mosquito Mk.XX, took off at 19:15. Some two hours later it was observed by a Royal Observer Corps post at Rushton Spencer flying at between 6,000 and 7,000 feet and 12 miles to the left of the route the aircraft was meant to be flying. The Accident Investigation Branch officer who investigated the crash concluded that the aircraft was already in trouble at this point having descended almost 20,000 feet.

A short time after being seen over Ruston Spencer the aircraft broke apart in mid-air with the port outer wing separating completely, the fuselage, tailplanes and fin all broke apart. One of the earliest action was the jettisoning of the escape hatch, this had been tampered with post crash so it could not be determined if the operating mechanism was used or not. The pilot abandoned the aircraft but his parachute caught the tail fin, it was thought that the pilot leaving the aircraft was involuntary as the machine broke apart.

Wreckage from the aircraft was spread for around 2,000 yards with the largest single section, starboard wing still attached to the port inner wing engines and centre section of the fuselage, falling to earth near Cheddleton Heath. The site where this came down is now in woodland but there has been extensive tipping on the site and the only items that have been found in recent years are of domestic origin.

The reason for the pilot descending was not determined due to the prolific tampering with the wreckage before the investigation could be carried out, this included many components of the high pressure oxygen system which was the main line of investigation.

The investigator’s remarks regarding this were as follows:

“There was considerable interference with the wreckage and a considerable amount was stolen. Among the parts stolen was the forward scanner unit which was subsequently reclaimed through offices of the Leek Police. As previously mentioned the complete blind flying panel was stolen and the oxygen regulators. It was also noted that towards the end of the investigation the ignition switch had disappeared.



Oxford L4601 No.17 Service Flying Training School Crashed at Shutlingsloe, Wildboarclough 4/4/45 2 crew injured

FEATONBY Horace Garth Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) 128984 Royal Air Force
Killed aged 32. Son of Horace and Edith Featonby; husband of Muriel F. Featonby, of Chiswick, Middlesex. At rest in Redcar Cemetery, Cleveland

ROSCOE Fred Leading Aircraftman 1018427 Royal Air Force killed aged 31 Son of Thomas and Emily Roscoe, of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire; husband of Freda Roscoe, of Ashton-in-Makerfield. At rest in Blacon Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire

FISHWICK George Aircraftman 1st Class 1512868 Royal Air Force
Killed aged 39. Son of Margaret Fishwick; husband of Phyllis Fishwick, of Salford.
At rest in Weaste Cemetery, Salford
Crew of 5 two injured and survived.

The aircraft was being used for a day cross country flight from RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. The aircraft had taken off from Cranwell at about 09:30 and had flown for around 40 to 45 minutes when the crew encountered patchy low cloud. They attempted to remain below the cloud in visual contact with the ground but lost sight of it and flew into the southern side of Shutlingsloe.


Oxford LX673 No.21 (P)AFU, RAF Crashed at Wildboarclough 11/1/46 crashed in Wildboarclough on the 11th January 1946 while on a Beam Approach training flight from Wheaton Aston

OLIVER David Fairless Flying Officer, Pilot Instructor , 162316 Royal Air Force
Killed aged 22. Son of Christopher Sibley Oliver and Ann Oliver, of Coventry. At rest in St James Churchyard, Stivichall Warwickshire

BULCOCK Eric Flight Sergeant (Pupil Pilot.) 1625826 Royal Air Force
Killed aged 22. Son of Wilfred and Martha Bulcock, of Burnley; husband of Margaret Bulcock, of Burnley. At rest in Burnley Cemetery
The pupil pilot was receiving training in the use of Standard Beam Approach equipment and had been airborne from Wheaton Aston for some 37 minutes when, at 09:45 the aircraft struck high ground towards the northern end of Wildboarclough. It was determined that the pilot was descending along the back beam but had descended too low.

The accident was described in the Manchester Guardian on the 12th Jan. “A Flying Officer and a Sergeant observer from Wheaton Aston RAF station in an Oxford training plane were killed when the aircraft crashed in thick mist on a hill at Wildboarclough near Macclesfield yesterday morning. It is believed that the plane struck the top of a small hill, smashed a wings and then fell backwards about 100ft into a deep gully. The two killed were 162316 Flying Officer G. S. Oliver and 162582 Flight Sergeant Bulcock.”

In the Manchester Evening News on the 11th there was a photograph showing one of the aircraft’s engines that had rolled down the hill after the crash.



German Air Force
Junkers JU88 A5 No. 6213 F1+AD of III/KG76, Shot down in combat over Roach End Leek during the night of 7th May 1941

Von.ZIEHLBERG Dietrich Heistermann (Hpt Hauptmann) Captain
Luftwaffe
LEMKE Walter (Oblt Oberleutnant) Lieutenant, Luftwaffe
SCHWALBE Rudolph (Ofw Oberfeldwebel) 4th lowest N.C.O. Luftwaffe
MAHL George (Fw Feldwebel) NCO Luftwaffe

8 May 1941 (08/05/1941) Junkers Ju88 F1+AD Wk Nr 6213 of III/KG 76 was shot down on its way home from bombing Liverpool and crashed at Gradbach. Maj D H Von Ziehlberg, Oblt W Lemke, Obfw R Schwalbe and Fw G Mahl were all killed.


The aircraft, from KG 76, was one of a number of aircraft tasked with bombing Liverpool on the night of the 7th / 8th May 1941. The aircraft was being flown by the O.C. of the unit, Major D.H. Von Ziehlberg who had flown nearly 70 missions and had been awarded the Iron Cross. The crew arrived over the target, where the weather was fine with good visibility, and dropped their bomb load before turning back for France. After turning back towards base the aircraft’s wireless operator broadcast a message to the other aircraft saying they had been hit and were on fire. Immediately after that he reported they were going to abandon the aircraft. The crew jettisoned the lower gondola but they had lost too much height and seconds after the first man left the aircraft it ploughed into the top of a steep valley side and was completely destroyed by fire. The one man who did exit the aircraft hit the ground before he could open his parachute and was killed instantly, the remainder of the crew were killed when the aircraft crashed into the side of the valley below Goldstitch Moss.

What had hit the aircraft is unknown, the RAF Air Intelligence report suggests that it may have been night-fighter action as one of the crew had sustained a bullet wound consistent with a .303″ round. Other sources suggest it was possibly ground fire which brought the aircraft down.