Defiant Mk.I N3378 of No.255 Sqn RAF crashed at Near Bleaklow Stones on the 29th August 1941

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon

 

James Craig Pilot Officer Pilot Killed
George Daniel Hempstead Aircraftsman Passenger Killed

 

The exact reason for the flight is uncertain, N3378 was assigned to No.255 Squadron at RAF Hibaldstow in Lincolnshire but it had been to RAF Turnhouse at Edinburgh. Onboard were P/O Craig, a pilot with the Squadron, who had taken leave in the Edinburgh area and had flown the aircraft up to Turnhouse and a member of ground crew, AC Hempstead, who was flying as a passenger. He was a professional golfer at Boston in Lincolnshire as well as being in the RAF and it has been speculated that he had been in Edinburgh in connection with golf and had been able to arrange the flight.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant N3378 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Derbyshire
The crash site of N3378 on the 75th anniversary of the crash in 2016.

The aircraft was expected to follow the East coast to Lincolnshire, however thunderstorms along the coast appear to have forced P/O Craig to take a more westerly route which lead to the aircraft flying into low cloud which was shrouding the Pennines.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant N3378 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Derbyshire
On the 75th anniversary of the crash Chris Eley from the No.255 Squadron Association visited the crash site to commemorate the loss of the two members of the Squadron.

The aircraft flew into the northern side of Bleaklow at Near Bleaklow Stones at a height of 1,950ft at cruising speed. When the aircraft failed to arrive as expected and was not reported as having landed elsewhere a search was started along the route it was believed to have been flying.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I N3328 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
Above is the site as it appeared in early 2000, for many years large amounts of aircraft were left at the site though this was recovered, for a time it was on display at Wolverhampton but has since moved.

On the 30th August a search by No.255 Sqn involved nine Beaufighters and one Defiant along with two aircraft from an Army Co-operation squadron stationed near York.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I N3328 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
The main site seen in 2006.
Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant N3378 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Derbyshire
The crash site on the 29th August 2016.

It was only on the 5th September 1941 that Hibaldstow received a signal from Turnhouse stating that P/O Craig had taken off with a passenger onboard.

Plaque at the crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I N3328 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
A small plaque was once attached to one of the crosses (one can also be found at the crash site of Wellington R1011) but it has fallen off and broken and now lies next to the cross it was once attached to.
Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant N3378 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Derbyshire
A close up of the poppy wreath which was placed at the crash site on the 29th August 2016.

Further searches revealed nothing and eventually the air search was stood down. On the 23rd September the crash site was discovered by two shepherds, soon after the two bodies were recovered to the mortuary at Glossop Police Station where they were identified and then sent for burial.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I N3328 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
The site with Near Bleaklow Stones in the background.

It was reported that before flying off track on the flight from Turnhouse that the aircraft may have been engaged by fighter aircraft in the Durham area. However evidence of this is unconfirmed and appears to come from a casualty signal sent to No.255 Sqn from No.10 Balloon Centre in Sheffield who carried out the initial RAF casualty action.

Crash site of Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I N3328 at Near Bleaklow Stones, Bleaklow, Derbyshire
Nearby is the area where the aircraft actually crashed and was left until the subsequent recoveries of the 70s, 80s and 90s
Wreckage from Boulton Paul Defiant N3378 on display at the Boulton Paul Aircraft Hertiage Project, Wolverhampton, it has since moved from there
Above is a photo taken by Mark during a visit to the Boulton Paul Aircraft Heritage Project in May 2003, their museum has since been closed and the wreckage of N3378 is believed to have gone to the Kent Battle of Britain Museum.