Categories
Uncategorized

80th Anniversary of Worst WW2 Aircraft Disaster on British Soil

1944 Dakota plane crash, with Crandean Plantation and Balmer Farm left of centre in the background.
Another view, with Newmarket and Crandean Plantations with trees of Balmer Farm behind to the right of the picture, and Stanmer woods far left.
Newmarket and Crandean Plantations; site of WW2 Dakota crash
Site of WW2 Dakota crash; Balmer Farm, hiding in the mist left of centre, Cranedean Plantation centre of background and Newmarket Plantation on the right.

Tomorrow is the 80th anniversary of this tragedy. I am sorry that I was unable to organise a commemorative visit to the site of the crash this year as I had hoped. I have previously written of it here and here. A few years ago I was privileged to speak to two eye-witnesses. Included below are some pictures from a walk I led two years ago, confirming the location of the crash site – as well a number of newspaper reports.

Lest we forget.

Unknown newspaper report of Dakota plane crash
Unknown newspaper report of Dakota plane crash
Gloucestershire Echo, 20 November 1944
Gloucestershire Echo, 20 November 1944
The Western Morning News, 21 November 1944
The Western Morning News, 21 November 1944

Leave a comment