Lancaster Bomber crash 1940's Tockwith village?

From the local press. Unfortunately Stirling is spelt Sterling a couple of times.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/13840649.Village_tragedy_remembered_70_years_on/

Hi Moggy,

Unfortunately no, I only found out about thisb today and after the dedication took place. At least the memorial itself looks like a Stirling

regards

John

My uncle – Roger Weston- was on that training flight. When his body was returned his mother was instructed not to open the coffin. He’s buried in an official War Grave in Sunderland Cemetary. Only found out about the Memorial this year or I and several of my cousins would have attended its dedication.

The Sunderland burial is unusual as I understood that RAF and Allied aircrew killed in the numerous accidents in Yorkshire in WW2 are gathered in the CWGC cemetery at Stonefall in Harrogate.

Thanks for that. Have you any influence to get the Halifax image changed for something more relevant?

Moggy

A quick update on the memorial dedication

http://www.tockwith.gov.uk/Tockwith-Wilstrop-Parish-Council/UserFiles/Files/Forthcoming%20Events%20and%20Information/TWPC%20Press%20release%20re%20monument.pdf

John

Halifax BII, DG230, crashed 14 Nov. 1943 at Kirk Hammerton while heading for Marston Moor. You can see the remains in the grounds of Benson’s Furniture Store on the A59 next to the pond and there are supposed to be more remains in the pond there.
Ask for the “Lancaster”!
Jim

Nothing sinister in the instruction not to open the coffin, of course, given the circumstances of your uncle’s death.

My uncle – Roger Weston- was on that training flight. When his body was returned his mother was instructed not to open the coffin. He’s buried in an official War Grave in Sunderland Cemetary. Only found out about the Memorial this year or I and several of my cousins would have attended its dedication.

There were also conflicting stories about the plane being on fire before it crashed, to fuel problems or icing.

There always are. Eye-witness reports about aircraft crashes are notoriously unreliable.

Moggy

Hi,

We had almost given up trying to find out what had happened to my Uncle. Like you say there was just a wall of censorship. We can only speculate as to why this was the case. 70 years is just too long to keep wondering. We were told they were on a low level training run over the lakes. There were also conflicting stories about the plane being on fire before it crashed, to fuel problems or icing.

So glad we found this yesterday.

My father and I will be up to see the memorial as soon as we can.

Arthur was from Padockwood in Kent and his grave is there.

If anyone can let us have any more details about the crash we would be so grateful.

Thankyou so much to everyone involved in raising the money for their memorial and all the effort in finding the crash site.

Andy

Lancaster W4904 Crash Site

Me and my father have been investigating this crash along with help from Yorkshire Air Museum & RAF Archives (Insworth), the location of the crash is Cockhill, near Old Edlington, Doncaster. On its final days bomb practice over Derwent/Ladybower resevoirs it crashed en-route back to base at RAF Lindholme (Doncaster), apparently out of fuel. We have visited the ‘crash site’ and there are still small pieces of the wreckage there. Hope this helps.:)

That sounds like it then thanks lads!!

Stirling LJ622 of 1665 HCU coded NY:X 09.Oct 1945 Believed to have stalled coming out of a turn at 2,000 feet in bad visibility . Crashed in the main street at Tockwith village lies parallel to the main runway at RAF Marston Moor. Village postmaster was killed as a result of the aircraft tearing great chunks out of the village.

Lancaster W4904 of 1667 HCU Lindholme came down 28.9.43 Dived into the ground at Marston Moor/Cockhill due to icing.

…Bits of which are still regularly dug out of walls, gardens etc apparently…

Found Googling :

…on 9 October 1945 when a Stirling bomber crashed along the main street of the village killing the local postmaster and damaging a number of buildings…

http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/

This was the site I checked when trying to answer your query.

Do you have a link Elliot?

Hi Peter

I would say Richard Allenby is your man for this – if he doesn’t knowe no-one will….

Have you checked on his website?

Cheers Andy

might want to slip a “1940’s” onto the end of the title…. 🙂