New Aviation Memorial to be unveiled
at Broomhill Grange, Nottinghamshire

Preparations are well underway for the dedication and formal unveiling of another aviation memorial in Nottinghamshire, which will take place on Friday 19th June, 2015 near Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire.

This raising of this latest memorial was prompted by the Aviation Memorials in Nottinghamshire, which was researched by the Newark Air Museum and published thanks to a Local Improvement Scheme grant from the Nottinghamshire County Council. 

The crash happened in the early hours of 26th February 1944. The Stirling bomber, Mk III, EF127 from 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at RAF Winthorpe took off at 18.30 hours on the 25th for a 7 hour cross country training flight. 

The aircraft crashed at 01.30 hours having run short of fuel. Weather conditions were terrible, with rain, sleet and snow. Although a Mayday signal was picked up, five aircrew were killed and two were injured. One of the two airmen who survived the crash raised the alarm and help was summoned to the rural site between Edwinstowe and Clipstone. The second airman was rescued and taken to Mansfield General Hospital, where he remained unconscious for three days.

Nottinghamshire farmers Mr & Mrs Bealby wished to play tribute to the crew and are raising this permanent monument to those who lost their lives on that early morning in 1944.  The ceremony will be attended by relatives of the crew members of Stirling Mk III, from Australia and England.

Stirling Bomber EF127 was crewed by:

• Flt Sgt. William Victor Manuel, RAAF 401986, (Pilot) aged 27
• Flt Sgt. Campbell David Bird, RAAF 418048, (Navigator) aged 30
• Flt Sgt. George Richard Joseph Macoun, RAAF 426127, (Bomb Aimer) aged 21
• Flt Sgt. Sidney Edward Christie, RAAF 423650, (Wireless Operator / Air Gunner) aged 27
• Flt Sgt. George Davison, RAFVR 1677871, (Flight Engineer) aged 19
• Flt Sgt. William Irving Taylor RAAF 434558, (Mid Upper Gunner) aged 27 {survived this incident}
• Flt Sgt. Reg J. Plath, RAAF 429483, (Rear Gunner) {survived this incident}

The crew pictured in Nottinghamshire Bill Taylor is third from the right

 

Press release by Newark Air Museum:
Web: www.newarkairmuseum.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewarkAirMus