Stirling Mk.I N6075 of No.101 Squadron, C Flight, RAF crashed at Merryton Low near Leek 13th July 1942

 

Roderick Urquhart Morrison	Sergeant	Pilot	Killed
John Richard Griffin	Flight Sergeant RCAF	Observer	Killed
John Ellis Williams	Sergeant	Flight Engineer	Killed
William Anthony George Atkins	Sergeant	Flight Engineer	Killed
Thorstein Enevold Helgesen	Flight Sergeant RCAF	Wireless Op. / Air Gunner	Killed
James Frederick Hirst	Flight Sergeant RCAF	Wireless Op. / Air Gunner	Killed
Leo Joseph Regimbal	Sergeant De Section RCAF	Air Gunner	Killed
Edgar Dolphin	Sergeant	Passenger	Killed

 

It while on a cross country navigation flight from RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire that the aircraft flew into high ground at Merrytown Low to the east of Leek a short way below the summit of the ridge. It is thought that the aircraft had over flown Biddulph shortly before the crash as the passenger was from the town.

The crew had been authorised to carry out a cross country flight followed by practice bombing at a range in Norfolk. The route was Oakington – Peebles – Stranraer – Aberdovey – Buckingham – Marham – Gooderstone Range – Oakington. The closest point the aircraft should have approached where it crashed was some 45 miles to the North East on its north bound leg to Peebles. At the time of the crash it should have been on the leg from Buckingham to Marham so would appear to have completed some or all of the northern part of its route.

 

 

On th 18th July 1942 the four Canadian members of the crew were buried at Buxton Cemetery.