Monument record 6561/2 - WWII aircraft crash site, Rothersthorpe

Wellington Bomber 482 of 11OTU from Westcott Bucks crashed near Rothersthorpe Church on 5th April 1944 killing all six members of the crew. There is a memorial to the crew in Rothersthorpe Church; the memorial has been created from the propellor of the aircraft.

{2} The aircraft left RAF Westcott on a training mission on behalf of the 11th OTU (Operational Training Unit). A technical failure occurred and the right wing was on fire. The crew attempted to divert to Milton and to put the fire out, without success. The plane crashed near the church of Rothersthorpe. The aircraft christened 'Bertie' was totally wrecked and all six crew were killed. Two of the crew were from New Zealand.

{3} A memorial in Rothersthorpe Church has been created from a propellor blade of the aircraft.

<1> Armishaw A., 1999, CORRESPONDENCE (Letter). SNN44352.

<2> B3A, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-vickers-440-wellington-x-rothersthorpe-6-killed [20/07/2023] (Website). SNN115345.

<3> https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, War Memorials Online, https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/259136/; Accessed 31/10/2024 (Website). SNN110618.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:08PM