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Peak District Air Accident Research |
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Peak District Air Accident Research |
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| Crew / Passengers | Rank - if applicable | Position e.g. Pilot | Status |
| Leslie George John Mizen | Sergeant RAFVR | Pilot | Killed |
| James Graham Hardie | Sergeant RAF | Co-pilot | Killed |
| Denis John Richardson | Pilot Officer RCAF | Observer | Killed |
| Edward George Jenner | Flight Sergeant RCAF | Wireless Operator / Air gunner | Killed |
| Louis Joseph Raymond Bechard | Flight Sergeant RCAF | Wireless Operator / Air gunner | Killed |
| Rutherford | Sergeant | Air gunner | Injured |
The crew were on a cross country navigation training flight from RAF Wellesbourne Mountford near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire when their aircraft crashed near the summit of Burn Tod in the Uldale Fells in the north eastern part of the Lake District. All but the rear gunner, Sgt Rutherford were killed in the crash, he made his way off the hill to the hamlet of Longlands to summon help. Following this the bodies of the victims were recovered by medical personnel from No.1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at RAF Silloth while the wreck was dismantled and recovered by No.83 Maintenance Unit.
The three Canadian members of the crew were buried at Silloth Cemetery while the two British victims were buried by their families, Sgt Mizen at Heston Churchyard in West London and Sgt Hardie in Birkenhead.
Wireless Operator, Flight Sergeant Raymond Béchard photographed before he departed Canada for the British Isles.
Image Courtesy of Georges Bechard.
Very little remains today at the crash site, only a small scar containing some small pieces of the aircraft.
This view is looking towards Trusmadoor, and beyond Longlands, where Sgt Rutherford had walked to following the crash.
This photograph has a similar background to the first image of the crash site. It was taken by a member of No.83 MU while they were clearing the site.
(Bill Middleton, from the files of Gilbert Rothery, via ex RAF Millom Museum)
Another view of the crash, this time looking up hill toward the top of Burn Tod Gill.
Some of the small fragments which still remain at the crash site today.