North American Mustang Mk.III SR411 / E of No.316 (Polish) Squadron RAF crashed on Darwen Moor on the 29th July 1945

 

Herbert Noga Warrant Officer PAF Pilot Killed

 

On the 28th July 1945 four aircraft from No.316 Squadron had taken off from RAF Coltishall in Norfolk and flown to air stations elsewhere in the country. One of these was SR411 piloted by Warrant Officer Noga who flew to RNAS Inskip near Preston, taking an hour to make that flight.

The following day he left Inskip to return to Colitshall at 15:40, shortly after the aircraft crashed on Wives Hill near Darwen killing W/O Noga.

Crash site of Mustang Mk.III SR411 on Wives Hill, Darwen Moor
The remaining wreckage at the site lies in a shallow depression on the moor from which it was excavated during the 1980s.
Crash site of Mustang Mk.III SR411 on Wives Hill, Darwen Moor
A close up of the wreckage and a tribute left at the site by a previous visitor.
Crash site of Mustang Mk.III SR411 on Wives Hill, Darwen Moor
The crater at the crash site, looking towards the west.