Lancaster Mk.X KB993 No.408 Squadron, RCAF, crashed 18th May 1945 on James’ Thorn close to Higher Shelf Stones

Avro Lancaster

 

Anthony Arthur Clifford Flying Officer RCAF Pilot Killed
Kenneth McIvor Flying Officer RCAF Flight Engineer Killed
David Fehrman Flying Officer RCAF Bomb Aimer Killed
Michael Cecil Cameron Warrant Officer RCAF Wireless Operator Killed
Clarence Halvorson Flight Sergeant RCAF Air Gunner Killed
Leslie Claude Hellekson Flight Sergeant RCAF Air Gunner Killed

 

The aircraft was flying from RAF Linton-on-Ouse and had earlier been carrying out bumps and circuits but the crew became tired of this and decided to fly around the local area. As it became dark the crew became disorientated and eventually ended up circling Glossop. The aircraft was observed flying into the hillside at 10:10pm.

The demise of KB993 in May 18th 1945 was one of the first post World War 2 crashes on high ground, ten days after the end of hostilities.

There was no navigator on board because the crew should have been carrying out only circuits, a task which he would have had no part in.

Memorial at the crash site of Avro Lancaster KB993 on James Thorn, Bleaklow, Glossop
This is the memorial to the crew of the aircraft on James’ Thorn near Glossop. Also commemorated on this memorial are the crew and passengers of C-47 42-108982 which crashed near by.
Since this was taken in May 1999 a second smaller plaque was added with details of who had erected the memorial.
Small amount of wreckage at the crash site of Avro Lancaster KB993 on James Thorn, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
Above is a photograph from 2009 of the scar with the dwindling collection of wreckage and memorial with Higher Shelf Stones in the distance.
Wreckage at the crash site of Avro Lancaster KB993 on James Thorn, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
This shot shows the small remains of KB993 as they appeared in May 1999
Small amount of wreckage at the crash site of Avro Lancaster KB993 on James Thorn, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
A photograph of the much reduced pile as it appeared just over 10 years later in early August 2009, only a few of the heavier pieces remain and the other parts are not scattered about the site.

 

The crew of KB993 were all buried together in the Canadian section at Brookwood Military Cemetery about 30 miles south west of London, below are photographs of their graves taken in 2007.

Headstone of Flying Officer Anthony Arthur Clifford at Brookwood Military Cemetery, pilot of KB993

Pilot Officer Kenneth McIvor at Brookwood Military Cemetery, flight engineer from KB993

Headstone of Flying Officer David Fehrman at Brookwood Military Cemetery, bomb aimer from KB993

Warrant Officer Michael Cecil Cameron at Brookwood Military Cemetery, Wireless Operator

Flight Sergeant Clarence Halvorson at Brookwood Military Cemetery, air gunner on KB993

Flight Sergeant Leslie Claude Hellekson at Brookwood Military Cemetery, air gunner on KB993