"73 years ago today, on the 14th October 1944, five crew members of Handley Page Halifax MZ920, WL C, died when their aircraft crashed in the parish of Dunchurch. They were on their second mission of the day when a serious fire broke out in the outer starboard engine. Two of the crew managed to escape by parachute but unfortunately the others were unable to leave the aircraft as the escape hatch had jammed.I have enclosed photos of four that died that night. They are:
- F/L Donald Zachary Taylor Wood, RCAF - Pilot
- F/O Bill Ewing, RCAF - Navigator
- Sgt Geoffrey Grant. RAFVR - Flight Engineer
- Sgt Donald Ward, RCAF - Rear Gunner
I haven't been able to locate photos of Sgt Parsons who also died in the crash nor the latter two below, who survived the crash.
- Sgt Owen Parsons RCAF - Mid Upper Gunner
- F/O W Stirling, RCAF, Bomb Aimer
- F/S O Stamatis, RCAF, Wireless Operator.
A Memorial Stone can be found on The Heath in Dunchurch which was dedicated in June 2004".
Following the Remembrance Day Service at the Dunchurch Parish Church on Sunday 12 November 2017 there will be a wreath laying at the Memorial to honour the crew that perished that night.
Rugby, 14 October 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment