Memorial for Wellington LN281 Crew

Wellington Mk X LN281 and her crew were based at RAF Market Harborough and operated by No 14 Operational Training Unit whose primary role was to train new aircrew to an acceptable standard before joining an operational squadron within Bomber Command.
LN281 took off with a crew of eight from RAF Market Harborough on 13th Aug 1944 at 15:45Hrs for what was thought to be a routine cross country training flight followed by a bombing detail at Grimsthorpe Bombing Range. The normal crew of a Wellington bomber consists of six: Pilot, Navigator, Bomb Aimer, Wireless Operator and 2 x Air Gunners. On this particular flight, LN281 had two extra crew members a Staff Pilot and Staff Navigator whose role was to train the inexperienced crew and ‘check them out’ ensuring that the trainees were achieving the correct standard.
At some point during the sortie, the aircraft started to experience trouble with the starboard engine and overflew Melton Mowbray airfield at a height of 1000ft.
At this height, the aircraft was too low for the crew to safely bale out so the only option was to try and make a safe landing.
Whilst trying to execute a large circuit on one engine and make an emergency landing at Melton airfield, the aircraft lost flying speed, stalled and crashed four miles from the airfield between Saxby Road and Thorpe Road in the Copley South field and after hitting a haystack burst into flames and ended up in the field next door.

In memory of the brave men who lost their lives whilst serving their country when their aircraft Wellington MkX LN281 of No. 14 O.T.U. RAF Market Harborough
crashed near this site on 13TH August 1944

Staff Pilot Flg Off Norman Owen DFC Aged 26
Staff Navigator Plt Off Sydney Jack Guiver Aged 24
Pilot Sgt Edward Mansel Roberts Aged 20
Navigator Sgt William Marshall Thomas Aged 28
W/OP Sgt Robert McCudden Aged 19
Air Gunner Sgt Peter Robert Stafford Aged 20
Bomb Aimer Sgt Leonard Wilson Aged 21

Also

Air Gunner Sgt George Henry Raby
who was the only survivor and suffered serious injuries

There is still plenty of research to be carried out in trying to track down relatives of the crew members and to ascertain photos and other artefacts relating to the deceased that can be used to enhance the story.
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