Hampden Bomber crash site

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Reference WMO/167909

Address:

Overbury Road

Hellesdon

Norwich

NR6 5LB

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Non freestanding
Location: External
Setting: Attached to a building/structure
Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet
Materials:
  • Stone Marble
Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: This memorial is dedicated to the pilot and navigator of RAF Handley Page Hampden bomber L4173 GL-T2, which crashed while trying to land on return from the 1,000 bomber raid on Cologne. A somewhat ironic location for a memorial on the front wall of a Norwich Undertaker’s. 14 OTU Hampden L4173 GL-T2 had departed RAF Cottesmore at 2310 for Ops Cologne, taking part in "Operation Millennium", Bomber Command's famous, first "One Thousand Plane" raid. The aircraft was severely damaged by enemy action and the entire return flight was made on one engine. Permission to land at RAF Horsham St faith was sought (and given) but the aircraft’s approach was too fast, and the Pilot elected to go around again. However, whilst at 500 feet, the remaining engine cut out and the Hampden plunged into Overbury Road, Hellesdon, just to the SW of the airfield at 0530. The Hampden ploughed through the rear garden of the Overbury Road property and came to rest partially in the rear garden of 11 Boundary Avenue. The nose of the Hampden only a few metres from the rear bedroom of the Durrant family bungalow where Russel Durrant was asleep. He thankfully was not injured. Two of the crew were killed and two were injured.
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This stone is in memory ofF/L W.L. CAMERON, R.C.A.F. (PILOT) AND SGT J.E. SHERIDAN R.A.A.F. (NAVIGATOR) WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN THE HAMPDEN BOMBER CRASHED NEARBY ON 31ST mAY 1942

F/L W.L. CAMERON, R.C.A.F. SGT J.E. SHERIDAN R.A.A.F.

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