Peak District Air Accident Research

Blenheim Mk.IV T1884 of No.105 Squadron RAF crashed on Harrop Edge between Mottram and Stalybridge on the western edge of the Peak District on the 27th November 1940.

While returning from operations against Koln, the crew flew into extensive low cloud which prevented them from landing at their home station of Swanton Morley in Norfolk. The crew flew NW across England in the hope of finding an airfield at which they could land. Before a suitable airfield could be found and with the aircraft all but out of the fuel the crew abandoned the aircraft which shortly after dived into the ground.

Sergeant Costello-Bowen rose to the rank of Squadron Leader before being killed on the 9th August 1943 while flying Ventura Mk.II AJ454 of 487 Sqn RNZAF near RAF Marham.

The above photograph shows Harrop Edge where the aircraft crashed. The crash site was visited with David Earl and Alan Jones in August 2004, a number of parts were located during the visit.

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