Wellington Mk.IC R1011 / M of No.28 OTU RAF crashed on Birchen Bank Moss 30th January 1943 while on a Bullseye exercise from Wymeswold near Loughborough

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Vickers Wellington Mk.X at the Royal Air Force Museum

 

Anthony Winter Lane Flying Officer Pilot Killed
Charles Douglas Brown Pilot Officer Bomb Aimer Killed
Charles Leslie Grisdale Pilot Officer Navigator Injured
Raymond Gerard Rouse Sergeant Air Gunner / Instructor Killed
Miller Sergeant Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Injured

 

The crew were one of seven from No.28 OTU taking part in a Bullseye exercise from Wymeswold and the unit’s satellite airfield of Castle Donington (which is now in use as East Midlands Airport), they had taken off at 19:19 on the 29th January. At 01:45 on the 30th January while flying in low cloud and wintry weather the aircraft flew into Birchen Bank Moss killing three of the crew and injuring the two others. They were eventually rescued and transferred to Ashton under Lyne hospital suffering from exposure and other injuries. Also lost during the exercise was Wellington R1538, which crashed near Stoke on Trent. Additionally Wellington Mk.III X3941 from No.27 OTU crashed in the Peak District after the Bullseye exercise it was taking part in was cancelled due to the weather.

Flying Officer Anthony Winter Lane, pilot of Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1011, crashed Brichen Bank Moss, Bleaklow
Above is a photograph of the aircraft’s Pilot F/O Anthony Winter Lane.
Image Copyright: Damienne Bell.
Pilot Officer Charles Douglas Brown, Bomb Aimer on Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1011, crashed Birchen Bank moss, Bleaklow
Above is a photograph of the aircraft’s Bomb Aimer Charles Douglas Brown.
Thanks to Ishbel Newstead for providing the photograph.
Crash site of Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1011 on Birchen Bank Moor, Bleaklow near Woodhead
A small plaque has been placed at the location where three of the crew of five met their untimely deaths
Crash site of Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1011 on Birchen Bank Moor, Bleaklow near Woodhead
Alan inspecting the small fragments of metal that remain at the crash site.
The crash site of R1011 during late summer 2012 (that is if we'd had a summer in 2012).
Crash site of Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1011 on Birchen Bank Moor, Bleaklow near Woodhead
Screen Wall memorial at Manchester Southern Cemetery with commemoration of Sergeant Raymond Gerard Rouse
Sergeant Raymond Rouse is commemorated at Manchester Southern Cemetery on a screen wall adjacent to the grassed over war graves plot.
Manchester Southern Cemetery war graves plot
War graves section at Manchester Southern Cemetery.