TRAINING ACCIDENT 8 – 18/10/1941

TRAINING ACCIDENT 8 – 18/10/1941

SGT J A GILLESPIE (R.A.A.F) DIED – Second Pilot

FLIGHT SGT. L. A. HILL. (R.A.F.V.R) DIED – Pilot

SGT. C. V. IRISH (R.A.F.V.R) DIED – Wireless Air Gunner

SGT. P, WALKER (R.A.F) DIED – Air Gunner

DETAILS OF ACCIDENT.

Wellington bomber C1 (X9821) took off from RAF Lichfield on the evening of 18th October 1941 on a dual night training exercise. During the flight the weather deteriorated and while banking to port, about a mile north of the airfield, the aircraft flew into the ground at about 02:00 hours. Local rescue services were hampered by the wet ground, the aircraft having skidded across several fields adjacent to a lane, aptly known as Sludgey Lane, before bursting into flames. All the crew members were killed.