Short Stirling Mk.III LJ628 of No.1654 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF flew into the ground on Upper Commons on the 21st July 1944

 

Leonard Thomas Gardiner Flying Officer Pilot OK
John O’Leary Flying Officer Pilot (Instructor) OK
Jim Coulson Sergeant Bomb Aimer / Air Gunner Injured
John David Gittings Sergeant Flight Engineer (instructor) OK
McDonald Sergeant Navigator OK
Thomas Edward Burroughs Sergeant Wireless Operator Injured
Ludlow Sergeant Flight Engineer OK
Austin Sergeant Air Gunner OK
Lennox Schultz ‘Swig’ Van Nierkirk Sergeant Air Gunner Injured
Hadland Squadron Leader ? OK

 

The crew were on an exercise from RAF Wiglsey in Nottinghamshire, having been briefed to carry out two and three engine flying as part of a cross country flight. The Stirling was unable maintain height on less than four engines and after loosing height flew into the gently rising moorland on Upper Commons to the East of Margery Hill. 

For many years this was one of the largest crash sites in the Peak District, however on the 24th January 2005 the bulk of the remaining wreckage from the aircraft was recovered for the Stirling Project by an RAF Chinook. The aircraft involved was Chinook H.C. Mk.2A ZH893 of No.27 Sqn. Below are some photos taken the day prior to the lift while final preparations were being made by members of the Stirling Project and the Joint Helicopter Support Unit, along with a little help from ourselves.

Recovery of the main undercarriage oleo from the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
The main wheel oleo after being removed from the hole it had been in probably since 1944.
Recovery operation at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
Parts being collected in one of a number of the lifting nets used during the recovery.
Gully at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
Compare this last image with the one taken 4 years earlier below.
Gully at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
looking down hill along the gully that most of the wreckage was dumped in.
Exhaust manifold at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
The exhaust manifold from one of the four Bristol Hercules engines seen in 2001.
Control surface at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
The remains of a control surface which was recovered.
Undercarriage oleo at the crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, Langsett
Slightly to the north of the gully was this main under carriage oleo, this item was among the parts recovered in 2005

Below are photographs taken when revisiting the crash site on the 21st July 2018.

Crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, South Yorkshire
The gully which at one time contained a large amount of wreckage.
Crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, South Yorkshire
Looking back up the gully, it still contains a small amount of wreckage from the aircraft.
Crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, South Yorkshire
Out on the moorland are a few small collections of pieces.
Crash site of Short Stirling LJ628 on Upper Commons, South Yorkshire
One of the collections of wreckage still on the moor.
Wreckage from Short Stirling LJ628
Some distance away from the crash site is this section of structure from one of the aircraft’s wings with part of an engine nacelle attached.