A memorial plaque marks a spot 110 metres from the crash site in Edith Weston of Avro Lancaster PD431 on Sunday 4th March 1945, while returning from an exercise.
" 04.03.1945 No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit PD431 H4-V Fl/Sgt. Truskett
Operation: Training
Date: 04th March 1945 (Sunday)
Unit: No. 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: PD431
Code: H4-V
Base: RAF North Luffenham, Rutland, England
Location: Edith Weston, Rutland
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Terence George Truskett AUS/428001 RAAF Age 24. Killed
Fl/Eng: Sgt. Dennis William Gilbert 627389 RAF Age 26. Killed
Nav: P/O. Bernard William Drake 55096 RAF Age 24. Killed
Nav: Fl/Sgt. Ian Bailey Yorkston AUS/429072 RAAF Age 25. Killed (1)
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. William Henry Ford 1535240 RAFVR Age 32. Killed
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Donald Campbell McLellan AUS/424442 RAAF Age 25. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. James Thompson 3040793 RAFVR Age 19. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. William Gordon Ratcliffe 2222927 RAF Age 25. Injured (2)
REASON FOR LOSS:
During the afternoon took off from RAF North Luffenham in Rutland for a cross country exercise.
At around 16:00 hrs they landed ver heavily and bounced - the pilot decided to increase power to go round again. During the climb the Lancaster’s undercarriage struck a vehicle - just seconds later the aircraft crashed into trees near the village of Edith Weston, killing all the crew."
SOURCE - (
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Names on the memorial -
F/O B.W. Drake (55096) Lutterworth (St. Mary) Church, Leicstershire.
Sgt. D.W. Gilbert (627389) Kirby Muxloe Church, Leicstershire.
Sgt. J. Thompson (3040793) Sunderland (Mere Knolls) Cemetary,County Durham
F/Sgt. W.H. Ford (1535240)
W/O D. C. McLellan (Aus.424442)
F/Sgt. T.G. Truscott (Aus.428001)
F/Sgt. I.B. Yorkston (Aus.429072)
A memorial service, with unveiling of this plaque, was held in March 2016.
No evidence of the crash site remains, and the plot has since been built upon with private houses.