Memorial plaque to crew of V for Victor RCAF Halifax Bomber Crash - WW2

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Reference WMO/241165

Address:

Westbury House

St Margaret's Street

Bradford On Avon

BA15 1DE

England

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Status: On original site
Type: Non freestanding
Location: Internal
Setting: Attached to a building/structure
Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet
Materials:
  • Metal Brass
Lettering: Unknown
Conflicts:
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
About the memorial: A wall mounted brass plaque 425 (RCAF) Sqn Halifax LE693 KW-V had departed Tholthorpe at 1630 on 26/03/44 on a test flight. Whilst over Wiltshire at approx 10,000ft, the Pilot lost control of the aircraft and ordered the crew to bail out. Three did so immediately, although one of these - the Flight Engineer tragically fell to his death after falling through a loosely fitted parachute harness The Mid Upper Gunner survived as did a member of the Sqn Ground Crew conducting trials on the onboard “Gee” and H2S radio equipment. For unknown reasons other members of the crew did not bail out at this time Witnesses in Bradford on Avon saw the by now very low flying aircraft circling the town presumably looking for a suitable field to attempt a forced landing. Eventually it was seen with smoke and flames streaming from one of its engines which was now on fire In the last minutes, three more crew, the Navigator, Bomb Aimer and Wireless Operator were seen to bail out directly over the town. Tragically they were all killed as they were too low for their chutes to fully deploy The aircraft crashed in a field above the town with the Pilot and Rear Gunner both still on board, exploding on impact. The Pilot was killed in the crash yet rescuers managed to free the Rea Gunner from his turret. Sadly he died shortly afterwards The Mid Upper Gunner later returned to Ops, only to be killed in the loss of 425 (RCAF) Sqn Halifax LW672 KW-N over the Ruhr on 18-19/7/44 In 1994 the ex-Cpl radio technician, flew in from Canada to attend the unveiling of this memorial plaque
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TO COMMEMORATE THE CREW OF/ THE HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX BOMBER 'V' FOR VICTOR/ OF NO. 425 SQUADRON ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE/ WHO DIED IN THE CRASH AT BRADFORD ON AVON, WILTSHIRE/ ON 26TH MARCH 1944

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Bradford on Avon Town Centre

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Bradford on Avon Town Council