Monument record 1995/0/8 - WWII Aircraft Crash Sites, Mears Ashby

On the 31st March 1943 two Flying Fortress B17 bombers collided in mid air and crashed to the east and south-east of Mears Ashby. A total of fifteen aircrew were killed. The bombers had taken off from Molesworth Airfield and were part of 8th Air Force Bomber Command mission 48.

{1} Oral report of aircraft crash site from G Foard. Further details forthcoming?

{2} [Information derived from Memorial Plaque at Mears Ashby] On 31st March 1943 20 aircraft from the 303rd Bomb Group left Molesworth Airfield. They were part of the 8th Air Force Bomber Command Mission 48 flying to the Netherlands to bomb the docks in Rotterdam. Over Mears Ashby, one of the B17s, named Two Beauts, nudged the wing of another B17, 'Ooold Soljer'. Both aircraft went into a dive and crashed just outside Mears Ashby. One bomb from each aircraft (of the six each held) was fused and these also exploded in farmland outside the village. The remaining bombs were later removed by bomb-disposal units. A total of eight crew were lost from Oold Soljer and seven crew from Two Beauts. Three crew members survived the crash. The bomb sites are located at c SP84106725 and SP 8495 6555.

{3} A memorial plaque has been erected in Mears Ashby and a copy is located at the aircraft museum in Sywell. The plaque was put together with the help of one of the survivors and Richard Watts (a local resident).

<1> FOARD G.R., 1996, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN49668.

<2> Richard E Flagg, UK Airfields, Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire; Accessed 14/11/2024 (Website). SNN116651.

<3> Northamptonshire HER, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Email from Nick Frampton, 13/11/2024 (Oral Report). SNN115011.

Record last edited

Nov 14 2024 9:49AM