Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1538 of No.28 Operational Training Unit, crashed near Dilhorne in Staffordshire during the early hours of the 30th January 1943.
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
| C. A. Reynolds | Sergeant | Pilot | Injured |
| Thomas Butterly | Sergeant | Observer |
Killed |
| F. W. Bull | Flight Sergeant | ? | Injured |
| R. R. Clarke | Flight Sergeant | ? | Injured |
| Allan Priest | Sergeant | Air Gunner |
Killed |
This aircraft had taken off at 19:00 on the 29th January Wymeswold airfield near Loughborough, five other aircraft took off regular intervals around the same time, and a sixth aircraft from the satellite airfield at Castle Donington, to carry out a Bullseye navigation and practice bombing exercise. Also taking part in the exercise were aircraft from No.27 OTU from Lichfield and Church Broughton.
The Operations Record Book for 28 OTU mentioned the exercise, and said that the crew from Castle Donington "made an excellent trip under difficult conditions". Of the six crews from Wymeswold two were lost, one being this aircraft which flew into the ground in low cloud at 02:15 on the 30th January.
The other aircraft from No.28 OTU which was lost was Wellington Mk.IC R1011, this aircraft crashed on Birchen Bank Moss on the northern side of Bleaklow about 30 minutes before R1538 crashed, the accident is recorded elsewhere on this site. No.27 OTU lost one of their aircraft during the Bullseye exercise near Darley Dale, this was Wellington X3941.
The site is marked by two plaques on a concrete post on at the edge of the field the aircraft crashed in.
Image copyright: Mark Sheldon
Above is another the memorial seen in 2003, this photo is looking into the field which the aircraft first impacted in.
Image copyright: Mark Sheldon.