Short Stirling LK488 Tail Section
Vložit
- čas přidán 30. 05. 2023
- Built as a Short Stirling MK III, LK488 coded QQ-E was part of 1651 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) C Flight.
On the night of 18 October 1944 at 23.05hrs she took off from RAF Wrattling Common on a low level cross control exercise. During the exercise the weather rapidly deteriorated and visibility became extremely difficult.
At around 03.15hrs 19 October 1944 LK488 hit the summit of Mickle Fell in Couty Durham. Her tail gunner, W/O Alan G. Small was thrown clear during the impact. Although injured he managed to make his way to a local farm to get help.
Unfortunately the rest of LK488s crew perished. They were:
Pilot - F/Sgt Peter Dawbarn Young RNZAF
Navigator - F/Sgt Neil Conway Burgess RNZAF
Flight Engineer - Sgt Bertram George Davis RAF
Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt John Matthew Stack RNZAF
Wireless Operator - F/Sgt Rex Patrick Furey RNZAF
Air Gunner - F/Sgt George Child RNZAF
Lest we forget.
During August and September 1977 almost 5 tonnes of LK488s wreckage was recovered in the hopes of reconstruction but sadly this plan hasn't come to fruition.
Photos can be found here: www.kentexplorehistory.com/po...
Would I be right in thinking that that's the biggest bit of Stirling in existance. Certainly the biggest recognisable part.
There are a fair few large pieces around. Two of which are sections of fuselage in France and Holland, also the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum at Manston in Kent also have a section of fuselage on display. It is believed LK488s remains are the largest known to exist though.
Where is this now? - I sat in this as an aviation obsessed boy on Mickle Fell over 45 years ago!
RAF Museum, Hendon
Too bad not very many of these old planes still exist, a lot of functional aircraft were dumped to the scrapyards giving no thought to history. Its as if everyone is trying to bury history or we're ashamed of winning the war.
And the waste continues. I'm bummed.
It’s definitely a shame.