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WW2 Aircraft crash sites
- Thread starter Flintlock
- Start date
Last week I was at the site of the 1944 Catalina crash on the island of Vatersay.
The crew of JX273 were on a night navigation training flight from Oban. Having taken off from there the pilots set course for the first turning point at Barra Head on Berneray, the southern most of the Outer Hebridies. At close to their expected time of arrival at Barra Head the navigator checked the course they were flying and realised they were to the north of track. He instructed the pilots to commence a climb to avoid high ground on the islands they were approaching. Before the aircraft had gained much height it struck the ground close to the summit of Theiseabhal Beag on the eastern side of the island of Vatersay. Three of the crew were killed in the crash or died of their injuries soon afterwards. The remaining crew were attended to by residents of Vatersay until the assistance came by lifeboat from the neighbouring (now causewayed) island of Barra. The three who died were buried in their home towns.
Those who died were:
WO David Johnston Robertson Clyne (Pilot)
Sgt Patrick William Noel Hine (Air gunner)
Sgt Frederick James Bassett (Air gunner)
Six other crew members survived the crash.
In these early days of flying and i realise some of these young men didnt get much training.
Do you think they were scared of flying high, or ordered to stay low?
So many crash needlessly into hills.
I'm no pilot by any means, but if i was flying i would make sure i was at least 500m higher than the highest land within the vicinity.
Maybe they wasn't given detailed maps of such things.
Do you think they were scared of flying high, or ordered to stay low?
So many crash needlessly into hills.
I'm no pilot by any means, but if i was flying i would make sure i was at least 500m higher than the highest land within the vicinity.
Maybe they wasn't given detailed maps of such things.
Added
Last week I was at the site of the 1944 Catalina crash on the island of Vatersay.
The crew of JX273 were on a night navigation training flight from Oban. Having taken off from there the pilots set course for the first turning point at Barra Head on Berneray, the southern most of the Outer Hebridies. At close to their expected time of arrival at Barra Head the navigator checked the course they were flying and realised they were to the north of track. He instructed the pilots to commence a climb to avoid high ground on the islands they were approaching. Before the aircraft had gained much height it struck the ground close to the summit of Theiseabhal Beag on the eastern side of the island of Vatersay. Three of the crew were killed in the crash or died of their injuries soon afterwards. The remaining crew were attended to by residents of Vatersay until the assistance came by lifeboat from the neighbouring (now causewayed) island of Barra. The three who died were buried in their home towns.
Those who died were:
WO David Johnston Robertson Clyne (Pilot)
Sgt Patrick William Noel Hine (Air gunner)
Sgt Frederick James Bassett (Air gunner)
Six other crew members survived the crash.
Sandy, aka Wiltshire man on YouTube recently went to find the memorial to a wellington Bomber crash site nr Uffington Wiltshire.
I copied this from a website
At 0105 hours on 25 August 1942 Wellington bomber DV595, on a night bombing practice flight out of RAF Harwell over Odstone Down (SSW of Uffington), collided with Wellington N2755 from RAF Hampstead Norris. N2755 survived but DV595 crashed, killing all the crew. A small memorial plaque was later put in place alongside FP19, which leads up onto the downs, in Uffington parish. Uffington Museum is commemorating the crew of DV595, and indirectly all the young men who died in accidents during WWII, with a special exhibition. This walk will pause at the memorial then continue past Britchcombe Farm up a steep slope to the Ridgeway and then along the Lambourn Valley Way, veering off to Knighton Bushes. There we’ll swing north to walk across Odstone Down, over which the crash occurred, then descend to the Vale via Hardwell Wood, and back to the start via Woolstone. Afterwards we can visit Uffington Museum (optional), including the special exhibition about Wellington bomber DV595. Bring a picnic. Park at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, where there is a shop. The Museum (www.uffingtonmuseum.co.uk) is open, free, on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 pm, Easter to end October.
maps.app.goo.gl
YouTube
I copied this from a website
At 0105 hours on 25 August 1942 Wellington bomber DV595, on a night bombing practice flight out of RAF Harwell over Odstone Down (SSW of Uffington), collided with Wellington N2755 from RAF Hampstead Norris. N2755 survived but DV595 crashed, killing all the crew. A small memorial plaque was later put in place alongside FP19, which leads up onto the downs, in Uffington parish. Uffington Museum is commemorating the crew of DV595, and indirectly all the young men who died in accidents during WWII, with a special exhibition. This walk will pause at the memorial then continue past Britchcombe Farm up a steep slope to the Ridgeway and then along the Lambourn Valley Way, veering off to Knighton Bushes. There we’ll swing north to walk across Odstone Down, over which the crash occurred, then descend to the Vale via Hardwell Wood, and back to the start via Woolstone. Afterwards we can visit Uffington Museum (optional), including the special exhibition about Wellington bomber DV595. Bring a picnic. Park at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, where there is a shop. The Museum (www.uffingtonmuseum.co.uk) is open, free, on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 pm, Easter to end October.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
There was a Short Stirling crash site half a mile from ours, trying to land at Acklington the aircraft struck the top floor of Cliff House Farm killing all five kids asleep upstairs in bed.
When the nearby land was opencast mined in the 70's aircraft parts were recovered from the scene
When the nearby land was opencast mined in the 70's aircraft parts were recovered from the scene
Just read about this here, very sad
The Robson Family
In 1997, a housing development built by Hassall Homes near the site was named Robson Way, with individual closes named in memory of the children (Sheila's Close, Sylvia's Close, Ethel's Close, Marjorie's Close, and William's Close)—recognized by the Imperial War Museum as an unusual living memorial
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