HI Can anyone trace any information on a crash which happened in Tring, Hertfordshire on 8/8/43. It was Wellington Bomber no BJ892 which dived into the ground. The plane was from the 26 Operational Training Unit. I got this information from RAF Halton, but this is all the information they have. My mother was evacuated to Tring during the war and was in a house (in Dundale Road) opposite to where the plane crashed (so I am assuming the information I have been given by Halton is correct because they say it is the only record they have of a Wellington crash in Tring). My Mum has often wondered who the crew were and if any of them survived. Also if everyone died, where are they buried? Please can anyone help - the details must be recorded somewhere? Many thanks. Christine (new member)
Hello Christine, welcome to the forum. I have the following regarding the incident you mention, its taken from 'RAF Bomber Command Losses' Vol.7 - W R. Chorley. 8 August 1943 26 OTU Wellington III BJ892 Op. Training. Took off at 1021 hrs from Wing for a cross country. It is thought the crew were attempting to descend below the cloud base, with the engines throttled back in order to prevent over speeding when control was lost and the bomber crashed at 1346 hrs at Hiswell Farm, Icknield Way, Tring Hertfordshire. All rest in Halton (St. Micheal) Churchyard. Crew. Sgt. R A. Young + Sgt. S J. Morton + Sgt. W A. Chamberlain + Sgt. A P L. Walker + Sgt. K. McKenzie + Sgt. R W J. Reeve + Sgt. C S. Newton + ............. Further details of these sad losses can be found on this link. :: CWGC :: Regards Peter
Thank you so much for the information. I can't believe how quickly you responded. I will ring my Mum with the information straight away. I'm glad I joined the forum. I have spent hours on the internet trying to find some reference to the crash but could find nothing. Thanks again. Christine
Sergeant WILLIE AUSTIN (BILL) CHAMBERLAIN 1392393, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 08 August 1943 Son of Willie and Alice Chamberlain, of Fulham, London; husband of Winifred C. Chamberlain, of Fulham. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant STANLEY JAMES MORTON 658719, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 26 on 08 August 1943 Son of Thomas and Isabel Morton, of Leeds, Yorkshire. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant KENNETH McKENZIE 1475337, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 08 August 1943 Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant CHARLES STEPHEN NEWTON 1802894, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 33 on 08 August 1943 Son of Ernest Alfred and May Newton; husband of Mary Elizabeth Alice Newton, of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant RONALD WALTER JOHN REEVE 1335974, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 21 on 08 August 1943 Son of Alfred John and Elsie Elizabeth Reeve, of Slough. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant ANTHONY PATRICK LESLIE WALKER 1389686, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 08 August 1943 Son of Thomas George Leslie and Louise Walker; husband of Edith Elizabeth Walker, of Harringay, Middlesex. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Sergeant ROBERT ANTHONY YOUNG 1236143, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died age 22 on 08 August 1943 Son of Wilfred and Constance Young; husband of Marjorie Mary Young, of Prestwich, Lancashire. Remembered with honour HALTON (ST. MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD
Many thanks for all the photos. I will have a good look through all of the information. RAF Halton said this was the only Wellington Bomber crash in Tring, so it has got to be the right one. Can everyone check that this was the only one. My mum says it crashed in either 1942 or 1943 she can't remember which year. Hiswell Farm, Icknield Way seems to be about 4 miles from Dundale Road but farms are sometimes spread out and my Mum says it was a field it crashed it. Many thanks for all the information. Christine
Hello Christine There is info on the internet regarding an American Boeing B-17 which crashed approx 1 mile to the east of Dundale Road ,Tring in Dec 1943. B-17 crash in Aldbury - Herts
Could the non-member who contacted us about this thread please get in touch with us again as the email address you gave us was incorrect & my reply to you was returned. cheers
We have begun investigation into our family tree, and came across this thread when looking for further information about my Great Uncle Tony. (My grandfathers brother). He is SGT APL Walker who died when this plane crashed. My mother and her mother have visited the crash site. We understand that the plane caught fire. My grandfather was very keen to know the location of the crash as they were not notified of this at the time of his death being reported to the family. Sadly my grandad died before he was made aware of the crash site. The farmer who accompanied my mother to the grave site said that he still finds remnants of the plane when he ploughs the field, there is a large dip. We have all visited Uncle Tonys grave on several occasions. He isn't forgotten.
