Avro Lancaster Mk.I PA411

Avro Lancaster Mk.I PA411 of No.230 Operational Conversion Unit crashed on Tintwhistle Knarr on the 21^st December 1948 close to the crash sites of P-38J 42-67207 and 3 RAF Hurricanes

Crew / Passengers	Rank - if applicable	Position e.g. Pilot	Status
Jack Sherwood Thompson	Flight Sergeant	Pilot	Killed
Peter Maurice Maskell	Flight Lieutenant	Navigator	Killed
Robert Smith	Flight Sergeant	Signaller	Killed
Vincent Graham	Flight Sergeant	Flight Engineer	Killed
William Allen Love	Sergeant	Signaller	Killed
Thomas Iowerth Johnson	Flight Lieutenant	Instructor	Killed
David William Henry Harris	Flight Sergeant	Instructor	Killed

The crew had taken off from RAF Lindholme near Doncaster during the night of the 20th December for a Night Familiarisation exercise, this was to have been largely local flying. At just after midnight on the 21st the aircraft was heard flying east over Tintwhistle in low cloud, followed by the sound of it crashing. The aircraft burst into flames and was more or less gutted by fire. One of the crewmen had survived the crash and was found alive by the first local residents to reach the crash site but he died shortly afterwards.

The recorded details of the crash are very brief but they state that the aircraft was meant to remain in the area around Lindholme but had strayed too far towards the west without the pilot becoming aware. He had begun his let down procedure when the aircraft flew into the hill.

Above is a photograph of F/Sgt Robert Smith

Image: A. C. Wood via David Earl

This photo shows virtually all that remains of PA411. This is mostly undercarriage struts but there are two pieces of armour plating, they can be seen in the background.

A recent visit has shown that much of what remains has been removed.

A propeller hub from the aircraft lies at the bottom end of the trail of wreckage.

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