Wellington Mk.III BK347 of 30 OTU crashed on Whernside near Ingleton in North Yorkshire on the 21st April 1944 whilst on a cross country flight from Hixon. All but the rear gunner perished in the crash. The aircraft appears in a photograph that is published in numerous books coded BT-Z, however at the time of the crash the aircraft was carrying the code letter Q.
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
|
Ernest Malcolm Barrett |
Flying Officer |
Pilot |
Killed |
|
Edward Alderson |
Flight Lieutenant |
Co-pilot |
Killed |
| Philip Edwin Lomas | Sergeant | Navigator | Killed |
| Robert Gerald Campbell Brodie | Flying Officer | Bomb aimer | Killed |
| Ronald Charles Holmwood | Sergeant | Wireless Operator | Killed |
| Norman Skirrow | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air gunner | Killed |
| Joseph Marks | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air gunner | Injured |
A Sergeant Joseph Marks (who is stated as being an air gunner) was killed on the 14th October 1944 during a raid against Duisburg in Lancaster Mk.III NE163 UM-T2 of 626 Squadron. It is possible that this is the same Sgt Marks but it could on the other hand be a different Sgt Marks.
The remaining wreckage from the aircraft is at one end of a large pit. After the crash the remains of the aircraft were buried in this pit. Over the years various groups have dug up bits of the aircraft so little remains today, although I think that there is still a fair amount of buried wreckage.
This photograph shows the hole that the remains of the aircraft were buried in by the RAF and in the background the scar where the aircraft actually crashed. About half way up to the top of the ridge is a large scar, that is where the aircraft crashed, there are still a few small fragments in the scar but not many.
Two of the crew were buried at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery.
Flying Officer Barrett
Flying Officer Brodie
