photo:Rodney Gibson
as WP-P
The site
Please remember this is private and cultivated land...seek permission from Roger Turner
photo ; Tony H -www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk
|
Short Stirling MkIII BK784 WP-M of 90 RAF Squadron took off from RAF Tuddenham at 22:45 on 23rd May 1944 on a 'gardening' mission at the Freisian Island, Netherlands. Gardening being the term used for mine laying,. The aircraft clipped a tree on take off, but the pilot managed to gain some height, but crashed a few miles away at Chippenham, just off the Badlingham Road. It was the aircraft's 55th mission. The aircraft was once coded P later had the call sign O and finally M. The crew of seven were all killed. Sgt Aston was buried at nearby Beck Row Churchyard, and the Canadian Sgt McCory was interred at Brookwood Military Cemetery. The remaining five were returned to their home towns for burial
90 Sqdn R.A.F. "Celer" = Swift Flight Sergeant (Pilot) John WHYTE 1559798 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aged 21, son of William Hastie and Grace Marshall WHYTE of Carluke, Lanarkshire. Buried in F:30 - Carluke (Wilton) Cemetery Sergeant (Navigator) Harry George EGGBEER 1802344 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aged 20, son of Samuel Albert and Maud Emily EGGBEER of Wells next the Sea., Buried in grave 286 Wells next the Sea Cemetery Sergeant (Air Gunner) Philip Joseph McCRORY R/202365 Royal Canadian Air Force Son of Frank J and Margaret Mary McCRORY of Montreal, Canada Buried in 49:C:7 Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey Sergeant (Air Gunner) Ronald Leonard ASTON 1866959 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Aged 19, son of Leonard Joseph and Violet ASTON of Sparbrook, Birmingham. Buried in E:8 Beck Row (St.John) Churchyard. Sergeant (Flight Engineer) Bernard PEARCE 1893142 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aged 20, son of Samuel J and Hannah PEARCE of Barry, Wales Buried in N:165 Barry (Merthyr Dyfan) Burial Ground Sergeant ( Air Bomber) Wilfred WHALLEY 1034217 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aged 22, son of Clara Ann WHALLEY of Blackburn Buried in J Non Conf 1816 Blackburn Cemetery Sergeant (Wireless Op) Leslie SHARPEN 1494813 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Aged 19, son of Ernest and Frances Annie SHARPEN of Sunderland Buried grave W:A;2288 Sunderland (Bishopwearmouth) Cemetery |
