Avro Lancaster flypast – Bellingdon.
Pretty certain this is PB475 of No.582 Sqdn from Little Staughton . It was returning from Chemnitz on 5/6.3.45(note date) when a hung up target indicator ignited in the bomb bay . Records state it came down near Bellingdon at 01.00hrs, sadly six of the crew were killed only the rear gunner survived by bailing out.It was coded “60:C”.
More info about this.
The sole survivor, Bill Hart never got over the fact that he survived. He married his girlfirend soon after and emigrated to Canada. He divorced his wife in 1970 and moved to Florida to run a limo and taxi servie. Regretfully alcohol continued to be a big part of his life and he died in 1980.
On a better note, the nephew of Glen Torr, one of the Australian airmen who died, (Jim Torr) and his daughter came to the site on 15th June 2010. Glen’s brother is still alive and had a commemorative plaque made which was placed at the crash site. The landowner had arranged for this plaque to be mounted on a huge piece of puddingstone ( a natural agglommeration found in the region) and flypast was organised to co-incide with a small service and blessing with representatives form the RAF and RAAF. It was kept secret by the landowner and about 30 invited persons attended. How sad that such an occasion was kept this way. The motive seems to be to keep the site secret – there could have been another way. Not even reported in the local papers……
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