Heroes of the Skies

The Story of Wellington BK261 by Ben Page

During the 1970s growing up in a sleepy, pre-M40 village, childhood days often included re-enacting WW11 war battles with mates on the farm. One particularly intriguing story involved a Wellington bomber that had crashed near the farm whilst on a bombing exercise. The valley had acted as a practice bombing range and until the eighties there stood a concrete observation tower opposite Valley Farm which was home to many machine gun battles.

It was only many years later, during a school history project, that considerably more facts were unearthed regarding the fateful demise of Wellington BK261 and all her crew.

The Wellington Bomber

Wellington Bomber in Flight

Wellington Bomber Pamphlet

The Wellington was a twin engine, predominantly night time bomber and was produced in greater quantities than any other British-built bomber. Over 11,400 were built and it was the only British bomber manufactured throughout the war.

During 1943 its bombing capacity was superseded by the larger Avro Lancaster, but it still continued to be used especially as an anti-submarine aircraft.

The Photoflash Bomb

Photoflash Bomb M46

BK261 crashed when a photoflash exploded in the aircraft. This device was the size of a small bomb and was inserted into the bomb chute by one of the crew or sometimes dropped automatically amongst the bomb load. In effect, it was a huge magnesium flare which emitted an extremely powerful white light as it exploded.

The photoflash certainly helped the effectiveness of bombing raids and also negated the need for very risky, low flying surveillance. However, the device was essentially a pyrotechnic and extremely volatile. Sadly, if a photoflash exploded inside the aircraft, it would have had tragic consequences. In the case of BK261 the explosion must have wrecked the cabin causing the aircraft to disintegrate in the air.

The Crew of BK261

The following brave airmen lost their lives on the 22nd November 1942:

• Sgt R.H. Church
• Sgt H.W. Bristow
• Sgt F.P. Nettleton
• Sgt T.W. Haver
• Sgt B. Hillberg

Aviation Disasters of the Region

Concrete Observation Tower – Valley Farm (stood until the 1980s)

Research reveals this was not an uncommon event. There were over seven hundred aviation incidents that occurred in the region alone. 1942 seems to have been a particularly grim year, with tragedies involving Wellingtons occurring locally at Compton Wynates, Gaydon, Edge Hill and Bodicote.

Other Local Aviation Heroes

Shotteswell also remembers two more aviation heroes.

A memorial plaque at the church entrance remembers those in the local area who died serving the armed forces in both wars.