RAF Witchford & RAF Woolfox Lodge

[GERBY]

Seeking information concerning the shooting down of Avro Lancasters returning from raids, near to their airfields at Witchford and Woolfox lodge. The aircraft concerned were shot down by German night fighters either in the circuit or approaching their airfields.

[forget]

Go to Lost Bombers - World War II Lost Bombers (http://www.lostbombers.co.uk)

Type Witchford or Woolfox in 'Search Text'. You should find what you want. Here's an example.

Lancaster ND387.
Squadron 1651
X1D BS-K
Operation Training
Date 1 3rd March 1945
Date 2 4th March 1945

"Although lost on a trainig flight, this aircraft, plus three other Lancasters have been included in this file of operational losses since they were all shot down by enemy Intruders during Exercise Gisela, thus, technically, KIA. Serial range ND324 - NE181 This aircraft was one of 600 Lancaster Mk.111s ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) and delivered from Dec43 to May44 with Merlin 38 engines. ND387 was delivered to No.83 Sqdn 10Jan44, to No.7 Sqdn 10Feb44, to No.90 Sqdn 10Oct44, to 1651CU 18Feb45. Took part in the following Key Operations; With No.83 sqdn No operations; With No.7 sqdn as MG-C, Leipzig 19/20Feb44; Schweinfurt 24/25Feb44; Stuttgart 15/16mar44; Berlin 24/25Mar44; As MG-O, Mailly-le-Camp 3/4May44; With No.90 sqdn, Nuremburg 19/120Oct44; Attenbeken 14Feb45-daylight; with 1651CU-shot down by Intruder 3/4mar45. No record of total hours. Shot down 0115 4Mar45 crashing near Woolfox Lodge Airfield, Rutland. Those killed are buried in various cemeteries in UK. Three are buried in Cambridge City Cemetery. F/S A.Howard KIA sgt A.W.Darling KIA Sgt W.J.Pullan KIA F/O K.C.Millar KIA F/S R.B.Wilson RNZAF KIA Sgt A.w.Taylor KIA Sgt J.Thompson "

[bigjok]

Before the A1 was upgraded north of Stamford, a monument could be seen by the roadside that commemorated the crash of on RAF aircraft. Does anyone know if it was resited after the road widening? It could have have been one of the aforementioned aircraft.

[forget]

The memorial was south of Stamford at Norman Cross roundabout. It was a bronze eagle to recognise French prisoners of war held close by during the Napoleonic War.

Nicked by pikeys years ago. Replacement now east of Norman Cross junction.

Roll of Honour - Northamptonshire - Norman Cross Eagle (http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Northamptonshire/NormanCrossEagle.html)

[Pom Pax]

The Witchford losses are described in lostbombers here (http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2584) and here (http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=2585).
I can remember my parents and others (a S/Ldr and his family (bombed out from Sutton, Surrey) from Mepal billeted with us) discussing the incident.
Trawling through the Witchford loses I was amazed at the high proportion of RCAF losses from Witchford.

[Gingie]

For your information, some pics of the site:

Woolfox Lodge (http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?637-Woolfox-Lodge&highlight=woolfox)

[Duckandcover]

Am sure the Woolfox lodge incident(s) was published in Flypast earlier this year. Not sure what issue.

[bigjok]

Re the golden eagle at Norman Cross, I know about that. The monument I was asking about was on the west side of the A1, and in the 1960s and maybe 1970s I used to stop by the roadside for a moment's reflection. The crew it commemorated numbered about 6 people.


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