Site last updated 1st February 2012

Peak District Air Accident Research

Stirling Mk.III LK502 of 1654 HCU RAF crashed at Cliffe Park, Rudyard, Leek 27th May 1944 while flying from Wigsley on a night photography exercise flying out to the Menai Bridge and back. The aircraft developed engine trouble and started to lose height, the aircraft was partially abandoned before it crashed.

Crew / Passengers	Rank - if applicable	Position e.g. Pilot	Status
Gordon Noble Leach	Flying Officer	Pilot	Killed
Frederick Thomas James Nicholls	Flight Sergeant	Flight Engineer	OK
Arthur C. Brett	Flight Sergeant	Flight Engineer	OK
Geoffray Norman Wise	Flight Sergeant	Navigator	OK
D. C. Watson	Flight Sergeant	Bomb Aimer	OK
Bernard David Fine	Flight Sergeant	Wireless Operator	Killed
Harry Ward	Sergeant	Air Gunner	Killed
Charles David Howes	Sergeant	Air Gunner	Killed

Of the four survivors, three were later killed on active service they were Flt Sgts Brett, Nicholls and Wise.

A general view of part of the crash site of LK502, the fuselage impacted where the bushes are now.

These two parts were the only item found on the surface of any interest. Other items of very corroded metal can be found, along with a piece of wiring from the aircraft.

Flight Sergeant Bernard Fine was buried at Chester's Blacon cemetery, below is a photograph of his grave.

Sergeant Howes was buried at Camberwell New Cemetery in south London, his grave is one of a number of war graves which were not properly marked at the time of burial or during the replacement of temporary crosses with headstones and is commemorated on a large memorial that sits over the main war graves plot, adjacent is a mass grave for civilian bombing victims whose remains could not be identified.

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