Hi everyone,
we’re planning a bit of a Remembrance-related visit by a small group from RAF Digby to the Kinder Low crash site of the Blenheim IV, Z5870, of 6 Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Unit, then based at RAF Digby.
I’ve got the excellent Peak District Crashes book and its narrative of the circumstances of the crash, and of course a few more service details from http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/ (see below). However I was wondering if anyone had any more information or background on the aircraft and its crew? As far as I know there is no wreckage or any visible evidence of the crash itself. I plan to write to the Air Historical Branch later this week but thought I would put a feeler out in the forum.
03/07/41 Blenheim Mk.IV Z5870 RAF 6 AACU crash site on Crowden Tower , Kinder, Edale
Pilot Sgt Nikodem Plotek (24) P780407 PAF
Passenger AC2 Wilfred Cottom (19) 653243 RAF
Passenger AC1 William Franklin Kidd (21) R/63958 RCAF
Passenger AC2 Raymond Place (31) 1021172 RAFVR
Cheers
Philip
By: Alan Clark - 15th October 2008 at 21:00
It is correct that no wreckage has turned up off this aircraft, I have looked for it a few times on different areas of the hill. The only thing I found in the area, besides a christmas tree and a few balloons, was a stainless steel spoon made in Rotherham by a company which no longer exists.
I have tried the 6 AACU ORB for more information but there was nothing, the AM Form 1180 recorded it as No.12 Group (AAC) Flight and I haven’t been able to track down an ORB for this flight yet. There was no mention in the local ORBS (Harpur Hill or Sheffield Balloon Centre).
The pilot was buried in the war graves plot at Manchester Southern Cemetery, he has no individual headstone, the entrie plot is grassed over with the names recorded on a memorial.
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October 15, 2008 at 7:57 pm