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13th July 1944: Air Crash in East FarndonFor many years there has been anecdotal information about an air crash in East Farndon during World War 2, and this has now been confirmed through internet research.The original information was given to Alan Langley by two people, one of whom was Ken Gardiner (late of Brierley Farm, East Farndon). Ken gave the names and numbers of the pilots and the planes involved in the crash, which happened possibly over the Gosse or maybe more towards Harborough. (The Gosse is the long-standing local name for the area of gorse bushes up the side of the valley. It can be accessed by the bridle path that runs along the left-hand side of Main Street as you walk up through the village).However, all the websites listing lost aircraft fail to mention this crash. It was thought that both pilots had been disobedient of the regulations in flying dangerously close - so maybe it was hushed up?This is the information from Ken Gardiner:The air crash happened near the Harborough boundary on 13th July 1944.Plane 1 was a Wellington bomber LN509 (Mark 10 type) from 14 OTU (Operational Training Unit) RAF Market Harborough (the 'Airfield site') on the Leicester Road.A crew of 2 were both killed.The Pilot was Flt Lt A.C. Shilleto 122927."They were flying dangerously loose in formation, and it was struck by no. 2".Plane 2 was a Wellington bomber LP627 (Same mark and unit)A crew of 2 were both were killed.The Pilot was Flying Officer W.D. Browne 124523.Duration of flight - 5 minutes.The following information was found on the International Bomber Command Centre, Losses Database, and corroborates Ken’s story:Plane 1:Pilot: Shilleto, Alfred Cecil RankF/LForename(s)Alfred Cecil SurnameShilletoGenderMAgeDecorationsDate of Death13-07-1944Next of KinSon of William and Elsie May Shilleto. Grandson of Mrs. A. D. Dunkinson, of Brockenhurst.Aircraft InformationAircraftVickers Wellington XSerial NumberLN509MarkingsMemorial InformationBurial/Memorial CountryUnited KingdomBurial/Memorial PlaceBrockenhurst (St. Nicholas) ChurchyardGrave ReferenceNorth side of churchyard.IBCC Memorial InformationPhase1Panel Number96Enlistment InformationService Number122927ServiceRoyal Air Force Volunteer ReserveGroup92Squadron14 OTU TradePilotCountry of OriginUnited KingdomFellow Servicemen Everett J (W/O) Last Operation InformationStart Date1944-07-13 End Date1944-07-13 Take-off StationMarket HarboroughDay/Night RaidDayOperationAir TestReason for LossCollided with another Wellington LP627 near the airfieldWireless Operator: Everett, Jack RankW/OForename(s)Jack SurnameEverettGenderMAge23DecorationsDFMDate of Death13-07-1944Next of KinSon of Herbert George and Isobel Everett, of Brighton. Husband of Mary Agnes Everett, of Kirkdale, Liverpool.Aircraft InformationAircraftVickers Wellington XSerial NumberLN509MarkingsMemorial InformationBurial/Memorial CountryUnited KingdomBurial/Memorial PlaceBrighton City (Bear Road) CemeteryGrave ReferenceSec. Z.F.U. Grave 69.IBCC Memorial InformationPhase1Panel Number33Enlistment InformationService Number751065ServiceRoyal Air Force Volunteer ReserveGroup92Squadron14 OTU TradeWireless OperatorCountry of OriginUnited KingdomFellow Servicemen Shilleto A C (F/L) Last Operation InformationStart Date1944-07-13 End Date1944-07-13 Take-off StationMarket HarboroughDay/Night RaidDayOperationAir TestReason for LossCollided with another Wellington LP627 near the airfieldPlane 2:Pilot: BROWNE, WILLIAM DESMONDRankF/LForename(s)William DesmondSurnameBrowneGenderMAge21DecorationsDFCDate of Death13-07-1944Next of KinSon of Arthur William and MargaretFrances Browne, of Hale, Cheshire.AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAircraftVickers Wellington XSerial NumberLP627MarkingsMEMORIAL INFORMATIONBurial/Memorial CountryUnited KingdomBurial/Memorial PlaceOxford (Botley) CemeteryGrave ReferencePlot I/2. Grave 246.ENLISTMENT INFORMATIONService Number124523ServiceRoyal Air Force Volunteer ReserveGroup92Squadron14 OTUTradePilotCountry of OriginUnited KingdomMEMORIAL INFORMATIONBurial/Memorial CountryUnited KingdomBurial/Memorial PlaceOxford (Botley) CemeteryGrave ReferencePlot I/2. Grave 246.LAST OPERATION INFORMATIONStart Date1944-07-13End Date1944-07-13Take-off StationMarket HarboroughDay/Night RaidDayOperationAir TestReason for LossCollided 1530 with Wellington LM509falling at East Farndon 5 miles WNWof Desborough Northamptonshire.Wireless Operator: Edge, Stanley PatrickRankW/OForename(s)Stanley Patrick SurnameEdgeGenderMAge23DecorationsDate of Death13-07-1944Next of KinSon of Robert and Anastasia Edge, of Wallasey.Aircraft InformationAircraftVickers Wellington XSerial NumberLP627MarkingsMemorial InformationBurial/Memorial CountryUnited KingdomBurial/Memorial PlaceWallasey (Rake Lane) CemeteryGrave ReferenceSec. 6.R. Grave 56.IBCC Memorial InformationPhase1Panel Number31Enlistment InformationService Number1112606ServiceRoyal Air Force Volunteer ReserveGroup92Squadron14 OTU TradeWOp/AGCountry of OriginUnited KingdomFellow Servicemen Browne W D (F/L) Last Operation InformationStart Date1944-07-13 End Date1944-07-13 Take-off StationMarket HarboroughDay/Night RaidDayOperationAir TestReason for LossCollided 1530 with Wellington LM509 falling at East Farndon 5 miles WNW of Desborough Northamptonshire.The following is taken from a forum on , where someone was trying to trace Sgt A C (Tony) Shilleto:THE ROYAL AERO CLUBAviators' CertificatesNo Name Club or School Date19,836 Alfred Cecil Shilleto Bournemouth Flying Club 25.8.39Flight ArchivesEVERETT Jack DFM Sgt RAFVR 751065 Wireless Operator 18/5/42 ?Died in a mid-air collision on 13th July 1944 between two Wellingtons of 14OTU (Market Harborough). Unusually, each aircraft only had 2 airmen on board, a Staff (Instructor) Pilot and a Staff Wireless Operator. Warrant Officer Jack Everett and his pilot (F/Lt Alfred Cecil SHILLETO) were aboard Wellington X LN509207 Sqn Roll of HonourFlew 29 sorties before posting to The following is taken from the same forum:Unaccounted Airwomen & Airmen - 13-7-1944 From Henk's List -UKALLEN, Arthur Joseph - Sgt (Air Bomber) - 1399042 - RAFVR - Tottenham Cemetery, Middlesex. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].BROOKS, Brynley Howell - Sgt(Flt/Engr) - 1654521 - RAFVR - Oystermouth Cemetery, Glamorganshire. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].BROWNE, William Desmond - F/L (Pilot) - 124523 - D F C - RAFVR - Oxford (Botley), Oxfordshire. [Wellington X - LP627 - 14 OTU ].EDGE, Stanley Patrick - W/O (WoP-A/G) - 1112606 - RAFVR - Wallasey (Rake Lane), Cheshire. [Wellington X - LP627 - 14 OTU ].EVERETT, Jack - W/O (WoP-A/G) - 751065 - D F M _ RAFVR - Brighton City (Bear Road), Sussex. [ Wellington X - LN509 - 14 OTU ].FILMER, Frank William - F/S (Wireless Operator-Air) - 1258276 - RAFVR - Canterbury Cemetery, Kent. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].FINCH, Harold Charles - Sgt(WoP-A/G) - 1132101 - RAFVR - Parr (St. Peter), Lancashire. [ Halifax II - HR748 - 1652 HCU ].MALCOLM, John Alexander - Sgt (A/G) - 2205033 - RAFVR - Carnmoney, County Antrim. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].MANNING, Frank - W/O - 3445547 - RAF - Birmingham (Lodge Hill), Warwickshire.PARK, David - Sgt (Nav) - 1567907 - RAFVR - Linlithgow, West Lothian. [ Halifax II - HR748 - 1652 HCU ].ROGERS, Arthur - Sgt(Flt/Engr) - 1593178 - RAFVR - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (West Road), Northumberland. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].SHILLETO, Alfred Cecil - F/L(Pilot) - 122927 - RAFVR - Brockenhurst (St. Nicholas), Hampshire. [ Wellington X - LN509 - 14 OTU ].SMITH, John James Harold - Sgt(Nav) - 1398719 - RAFVR - New Southgate, Hertfordshire. [ Halifax II - W7778 - 1662 HCU ].As we know, the above were the 2 pilots and their wireless operators. Perhaps the crash was hushed up because they had been disobeying orders? ................
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