F/O. Glencairn Sholto Ogilvie 99 Squadron RAF

The Devil’s Dyke is a huge Anglo-Saxon ditch, up to four metres deep (relative to modern ground surface) and the associated bank up to 6 metres high by the same standard. I’m not sure what the heights/depths are on the approach/departure to the old Newmarket runway, but a mile or so away it[‘s big enough to be breathtaking. The article is right – you hit that, you die, it’s that simple.

Apart from being a bloody awful obstacle to have nearby, when you have heavily-laden aircraft staggering into the sky, one has to wonder how many otherwise survivable accidents turned into carnage against the bank…:( Or how many clipped it, when otherwise they might have bellied-in straight ahead, or made it into the air.

Adrian

Thanks very much Kev, it is interesting to note that his tombstone ]above] records Flying Officer although I have since seen elsewhere that he was a ‘two ringer’ perhaps ‘acting’ F/Lt etc

The Ogilvie family owned the land that Sizewell Nuclear Power Stations sits on today, they also had grand ideas of a mock Tudor Village at nearby Thorpeness that actually came to fruition which is why my research led me to the Church where all the Ogilvies are buried. They also have a reputation of ‘bagging’ more birds for taxidermy than any other family in Britain, Ipswich Museum can show the examples……………

On a tangent but aviation related I believe it was The Devils Dyke that the well known jockey Frankie Dettori nearly came to grief, but sadly the pilot did not survive http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/774429.stm

Thanks again

John.

Chorley gives the aircraft as Wellington IC, R1333 which was on an operation to Ludwigshafen.

‘T/o Newmarket and crashed 2128 into Devil’s Dyke, shortly after becoming airborne. Four members of the crew died in the crash and two were injured.’

Crew:

F/L G S Ogilvie killed.
P/O A P Pritchard RNZAF killed.
Sgt R J Bowden killed.
Sgt Hendy injured.
Sgt Lea injured.
Sgt W E H Boast killed.

The Air Britain entry for R1333 has the aircraft en route for Mannheim. Incidentally, the Squadron lost another Wellington that night. T2803 is recorded by Chorley as being ditched off Thorney Island while the Air Britain entry for this aircraft has the following……

‘Radio failed; abandoned while lost in bad weather off Thorney Island returning from Mannheim.’

The pilot, S/L C J S Scott-Dickins died, the remainder of the crew were safe.

Bomber Command War Diaries gas the following for the night of 18/19 December.

’17 Wellintons and 9 Whitleys to Mannheim, 5 Wellingtons to the Pirelli factory at Milan. Fires were claimed started near Mannheim main railway station and 3 aircraft which reached Milan claimed a “terrific blaze” there. 1 Wellington was lost.’

Although there is no mention of Ludwigshafen in Middlebrook and Everitt’s BCWD, Lost bombers website also records R1333 as going to Ludwigshafen. For completeness it also lists the full crew of T2803:

S/L C.J.S.Scott-Dickens KIA P/O Marshall P/O Pemberton Sgt Fry Sgt Barker Sgt Maunsell.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

kev35

John.

I trust you have the details from Bomber Command Losses? That is all I could add. If you don’t have the details I’ll post them here.

Regards,

kev35

Thanks Kev, I looked on there, but none the wiser, so I would appreciate anything further you or anyone might have.

John.

I trust you have the details from Bomber Command Losses? That is all I could add. If you don’t have the details I’ll post them here.

Regards,

kev35