Memorial RAF Flight LK276, Easton Lodge, Little Easton, Essex, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 51° 53.618 E 000° 18.945
31U E 315304 N 5752613
A memorial plaque in the grounds of Easton Lodge to the crew of a Stirling aircraft that crashed during WWII.
Waymark Code: WM9A2B
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/20/2010
Views: 3
In the grounds of Easton Lodge there is a tree lined memorial walk dedicated to the RAF Stirling crews that were stationed here. At the head of the walk there is a memorial plaque to the crew of flight LK276 that crashed while in service. The plaque reads
IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE CREW OF
STIRLING BOMBER, LK276, 190 SQD
NEWTON FIELD, GREAT DUNMOW
21ST NOVEMBER 1944
F/O J.I.KIDGELL, F/O W.W.D. BRAIN
F/O E.D. WOODS
F/SGT R.M.DAUNCEY, F/SGT R.D. PAYNE
F/SGT A.G. REID, SGT H. HOLT
PER ARDUA AD ASTRA
The Stirling was towing a Horsa glider into the airfield immediately prior to the accident. The glider, P-F573, was released and landed safely. The Stirling was then being flown to the rope dropping area when it was requested to circle the outer perimeter of the airfield. Shortly afterwards LK276 crashed, having hit some willow trees and power lines, before skidding along a bank and exploding at Puildings Farm. All the crew were killed.
A board of enquiry at the time blamed the pilot for failing to monitor his altimeter. Subsequent investigations, however, came to the conclusion that the aircraft was being followed by a Luftwaffe night fighter which shot the Stirling down.
The gardens at Easton Lodge are open 12noon to 6pm on various Sundays between April and October. For opening times see (
visit link)