Hawker Hurricanes Z3677,Z3781,Z3457 and Z3253

[ATTACH]165642[/ATTACH]

This memorial is in the Maughold churchyard on the Isle of
Man. The four Hurricanes where part of 133 Squadron due to leave Duxford and move to Eglington, near Derry. N.Ireland they where due to fly to Sealand to refuel and the to Andreas and Jurby on the Isle of Man again to refuel . 6 of the flight left Sealand at 3.30 on the 8th October 1941 the first 3 landed at Jurby at 4.15 and the last 3 at Andreas 4.30pm The remaining 9 aircraft left Sealand at 4.40 3 aircraft made Andreas 2 returned to Sealand The other 4 encountered low cloud and became lost, they all crashed into the sides of the mountains.
A great many planes crashed on the Island during the war. The biggest loss of life was when Flying Fortress B17G- 38856 from Ridgewell, Essex. crashed into North Barule on 23rd April 1945. 31 lives where lost they where all ground crew, support services amourers, mechanics and fitters who it was felt needed a break after all their hard work, they had been given a weeks leave in Northern Island. There is a memorial at the site of the crash. The rocks are still charred and parts of the aircraft can still been seen, The men from the plane are all buried at Madingley.