Site last updated 1st February 2012

Peak District Air Accident Research

Short Stirling Mk.III EE975 of No.1660 HCU crashed on Old Cote Moor on the 14th August 1944 after two engines overheated and had to be shut down on a night cross country flight from RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire.

Crew / Passengers	Rank - If Applicable	Position e.g. Pilot	Status
Donald McFarlane Bowe	Pilot Officer RAAF	Pilot	Killed
Robert James Douglas	Flight Sergeant RAAF	Navigator	Killed
Cornelius Patrick O'Neil	Flight Sergeant RAAF	Bomb Aimer	OK
George Ivan Maloney	Flight Sergeant RAAF	Wireless Operator	OK
C M Davies	Sergeant RAFVR	Air Gunner	Injured
I K Frazer	Sergeant RAFVR	Flight Engineer	OK
F G Nelson	Sergeant RAFVR	Flight Engineer	OK

"The aircraft was on a night cross country at about 8000 feet. The first engineer reports feathering the port outer as the cylinder head temp was dropping right off and the pilot reported a loss of power, and a short while later, doing likewise with the starboard outer as it was suffering from the same trouble. The pilot tried to maintain height, but decided to bale out his crew at about 4500 feet. Apparently, the pilot and navigator did not get out and were killed. The accident is the subject of an investigation."

All of the crew, with the possible exception of Flight Sergeant Bowe had baled out. Flight Sergeant Douglas was killed because, unfortunately, he jumped from low level over the summit of Firth Fell and hit the 1600ft summit before he could open his parachute.

While Donald Bowe is recorded as a Pilot Officer, records written at the time of the crash show he was at the rank of Flight Sergeant, but had been appointed to the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from the 10th August 1944.

Parts from EE975 are scattered around where it fell on Old Cote Moor a couple of collections.

The two airmen who were killed in the accident were buried at Harrogate (Stonefall) Cemetery, below are photographs of their graves.

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