Stanton Harcourt

WW2 Airfields of Oxfordshire - Stanton Harcourt

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Stanton Harcourt


Male Ablutions

Aerial view


B1 Hangar & 'airfield'

Airfield panorama : May 2006

Optimised for viewing at 1024 x 768


An air raid shelter next to the main entrance


Buildings & equipment for MT use


A Turret Trainer and nearby office block


The old 'Guard Room' and main entrance

A brief description accompanies each of the larger images - click thumbnails to view.


Airmens crewroom and dining hall


Misc. buildings around Technical Site


Views around the Northern edge of the airfield


Open views of the camp area


Dispersal Site 2 - Stores Complex?


The nearby bomb dump at Eynsham, largest in the county during WW2


Five images supplied by Nigel Dawe, from about the late 1980s

Points of Interest:

WARNING

DO NOT TRESPASS AND STAY AWAY FROM THE BUILDINGS

The airfield was constructed by Wimpey, the contract agreed in May 1940 for £210,000.

A bomb and weapons storage facility is also built at the S.East edge of the airfield, although the largest WW2 bomb dump in Oxfordshire is only a few miles away near Eynsham

A historic artefact known as the 'Devils Quoits' are removed for safe storage (as a the runway was built over their original location. Playing Quoits on Beacon Hill, some two and a half miles away, the Devil was informed he wasn't playing the game correctly. In a rage, he threw the stones to where they once stood).

Flying commenced on 3rd Sep 1940 with 10 OTU, but there is a problem caused by flooding from the nearby river Windrush.

RAF Stanton Harcourt (SH) is deemed a satellite station, administrative control being handled by RAF Abingdon.

A Whitley from SH was the first British bomber to fly over Berlin during the war.

Airfield was bombed by 3 enemy aircarft during August 1940, 5 workmen were killed, and 4 died later of their wounds.

As a result of this raid, the order was given for all airfields to be equipped with AA and other light armament.

Whitleys & Halifax's were the main aircraft operating from SH, although many other aircraft did visit, particularly when Abingdon was having concrete runways laid.

Airfield is attacked again on 3 Oct 40 - six HE bombs dropped, no damage recorded.

Early use of SH was for night flying training by Whitley until they were replaced by Wellingtons. The Whitley's later provided excellent service as glider tugs in preparation and for D-Day.

July 1941 - 15 Halifaxes from 35 & 76 Sqn's mounted attack on Scharnhorst (La Pallice raid) from here. Scharnhorst is damaged and has to return to Brest for repairs, which take over 4 months to complete.

Whitley 4997, piloted by Flt Lt Pete Daniels and with crew member Bob Pratt, took part in Operation Millennium on 30 May 42 - the 1st 1000 bomber of the war, target on this occasion was Cologne.

Winston Churchill flew to the Casablanca Conference on 13 Jan 1943 from this airield in Liberator AL504 (Operation 'Static'). This very important meeting with the President of USA was the first of its kind with the allies, and was used to discuss the end of the war.

Station was also used for gunnery training. The turret trainer building still remains and is in good condition. (A rifle range also exists but is covered by undergrowth).

19 Nov 43, two Lancasters from 408/426 Sqns land at SH following a raid on Berlin. (Piloted by P/O J. Clinkskill and F/O R. Christison)

Following an attack on Schweinfurt on 24/25 Feb 1944, a RCAF Lancaster II from (probably) 408 Sqn lands at SH. One of 35 aircraft that took off from Linton-on-Ouse, this one piloted by a P/O Bryson.

1501 BAT Flt Oxfords use airfield from Apr - Dec 1944.

Following cessation of hostilies, the airfield is finally closed on 15 Jan 1946.

From 1951 - 1974 the Officers Mess is used for the upper two forms of the village school, whilst the old school stayed for use by the infants.

Approx. 1/4 mile of runway still remains at the southern end of the airfield, the rest being broken up for hardcore to enable gravel/sand extraction.

Apart from storing some farm equipment, what remains of the site is in surprisingly good and original condition. Unfortunately it also a frequent target for vandals and thieves, hence the present owner is unwilling to spend any money on developing it.


Bomb loading ramp	Weapons range


At the Northwest of the airfield

Related link


Dispersal Site 2 - Misc. buildings

Operations Block



Pages from Bob Pratt's logbook, a local resident and who was also stationed at RAF Stanton Harcourt during the war. Bob has since died, I believe sometime during 2007

Turret Trainer Diagram

	Aircraft, Personnel, and Incidents at RAF Stanton Harcourt

Aircraft.	Tail No.	Notes

A.W.38 Whitley	K 8981	Mk III	Damaged beyond repair after heavy landing (last Mk III to be written off in Bomber Cmd)
	N 1374 H	Mk V	A/c flew on 2nd 1000 bomber raid, Jun 42 (Essen)
	N 1391	Mk V
	N 1411	Mk V	Crashed Apr 41, approx 1 mile WSW of SH
	N 1429	Mk V	Struck tree and crashed approx 1 mile from SH
	N 1488 T	Mk V
	N 1503	Mk V	Scrapped after heavy landing at SH
	P 4939	Mk V	Crashed after t/o approx 1 mile from SH
	P 4962	Mk V	Wheels up crash landing at SH, May 44 (hydraulics failure).
	P 4997 Y	Mk V	A/c flew on first 1000 bomber mission (Cologne) Starboard engine failure caused forced landing at Swanton Morley, Dec 43.
	P 5015	Mk V	Engine & undercarriage problems, wheels up landing at SH Apr 44
	P 5023	Mk V	Struck tree during low level flying and crashed near Eaton, Berk
	P 5040	Mk V	Engine failure. Stalled at low level to avoid HT lines and landed heavily near Tar farm, 3 miles SE of Witney
	T 4131 V	Mk V
	Z 6499	Mk V	Crashed when a/c swung out of control on t/o, u/c smashed and port wing severely damaged
	Z 6976	Mk V	Undercarriage failure following excess loading when a/c swung to stbd on t/o.
	Z 6798	Mk V	Port engine failure at 200' after t/o caused forced landing at SH
	Z 9207	Mk V	Undercarriage failure following fast landing and ground manoeuvre.
	Z 9302	Mk V	Port engine failure at 200' after t/o caused forced landing at SH
	Z 9432 J	Mk V
	Z 9435	Mk V
	Z 9471	Mk V	Mid-air collision with LA 879 about 2 miles SE of airfield.
	Z 9474	Mk V	Port engine cut out during climbing turn after t/o. A/c crash landed at SH, flaps and u/c retracted, Aug 44
	AD 690	Mk V	Stbd engine fire caused forced landing approx 3 miles south of runway, Jul 44.
	AD 708	Mk V	Delivered new Jan/Feb 42
	AD 714	Mk V	Delivered new Jan/Feb 42. Crashed at Ferryman's Farm, Northmoor, following overshoot of runway, Nov 42.
	BD 193	Mk V	Crashed following Op Dusseldorf (shot down by Naval 'friendly' fire on return from raid)
	BD 194	Mk V	Force landed at SH
	BD 195 D	Mk V
	BD 215	Mk V	Port engine cut out on landing approach, A/c swung and ended in quarry 200yds from runway. Last Whitley written off by 10 OTU
	BD 216	Mk V
	BD 223	Mk V	Wrecked following landing accident
	BD 234	Mk V	Engine failure due to glycol leakage. Crashed near Twelve Acre Farm, Eynsham
	BD 271	Mk V	A/c crashed due to structural failure, two miles from Wallingford at Brightwell
	BD 280	Mk V	Port engine failure. A/c stalled when pilot tried to avoid HT lines for forced landing. Crashed 1 mile from Ivinghoe, Bucks.
	BD 352 D	Mk V
	BD 369	Mk V
	BD 376	Mk V	Crashed following aborted takeoff, burst into flames on impact
	BD 395	Mk V	Flew into ground in low vis. approx 1 mile from SH
	BD 669	Mk V
	EB 357	Mk V	RTU following Nav Ex, a/c overshot runway due to poor weather conditions. A/c wrecked beyond repair
	EB 360	Mk V	A/c ditched in N.Sea approx 60 miles east of Mablethorpe following loss of engine power during Nav Ex
	BD 374	Mk V	Damaged following engine failure at 100' and landing at Yew Tree Farm, Standlake
	LA 196	Mk V	Crash landed 400 yds NE of airfield when starboard engine failed to restart following feathering procedures demo
	LA 844	Mk V	On return from X-country ex, ran off end of runway at high speed and crashed into local quarry, bursting into flames.
	LA 879	Mk V	Mid-air collision with Z9471 about 2 miles SE of airfield.

Martinet I	JN 655	Mk I	Engine cut afer t/o at 650', a/c force landed 2 miles NE of airfield, Oct 44 (a/c on RTU toAbingdon)

Tomahawk I	AH 860	Mk I	After t/o from SH for fghter affiliation duties, engine failed and pilot bounced a/c on landing and force landed at Abingdon (Feb 44)

Wellington X	LP 873	X	Night navex, presumed lost control of a/c, crashed near Kineton, Stow on the Wold.
	NC 714	X	Night navex, a/c on fire in air, crashed near Much Wenlock, Shropshire.
	NA 592	X	Stbd engine lost power on t/o, low level strike on hut caused sufficient damage to warrant a/c being written off
	DV539	IC	(458 Sqn) Took off Stanton Harcourt for Luqa, but overshot island and shot down 45km from Malta by Ju88s. 22 Feb 42

The following aircraft from 35 Sqn mounted a raid from Stanton Harcourt on the German Battleship 'Scharnhorst', 24 July 1941
Halifax	L 9524 V	Mk I	Sustained damage from enemy a/c (W/Op killed); returned and landed at St Eval.
	L 9512 L	Mk I	Known to have scored a direct hit, but failed to return from mission. Officially listed as' missing'.
	L 9500 H	Mk I	Repeatedly attacked by enemy a/c, but pilot succeeded with precision attack. Landed at Weston Zoyland.
	L 9501 Y	Mk I	Blown off target by flak, ten attacks from enemy a/c. Returned and landed at Weston Zoyland.
	L 9597 W	Mk I	Encountered heavy accurate flak over target; dropped bombs from 14000' - narrow miss. Landed at SH.
	L 9527 M	Mk I	Aircraft last seen in the target area descending in a slow spiral with smoke coming from engines. Listed as 'missing'.
	L 9511 D	Mk I	Attacked over target by enemy fighters, tail gunner killed, others wounded. Bomb hung up, did not release. Landed at St Eval.
	L 9491 J	Mk I	Delivered attack from 13,000', unable to take correct sight as height bar shot away - bombs seen to burst in dock area. Landed St Eval.
	L 9508 X	Mk I	Encountered accurate heavy flak. Stbd outer engine was damaged. Attack delivered under great difficulties. Landed at St Eval.

Personnel	Surname	Rank
	Abrams, GWF	Sgt	Survived ditching in N.Sea, 18 Nov 42
	Adams, AJ	Sgt	Killed on return from Op Dusseldorf, Sep 42 (a/c shot down by British Navy - 'friendly ' fire incident)
	Adams, AF	Sgt	Survived ditching in N.Sea, 18 Nov 42
	Archer
	Arther, JD	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley Z 9471, Sep 43
	Auld	Plt Off	Killed during landing incident at SH, a/c ran off end of runway at high speed, Mar 43
	Bailey	Sqn Ldr
	Bainbridge FK	Sqn Ldr, DFC	Survived forced landing after port engine failed at 200' after t/o, May 44
	Bartlett	Plt Off	Killed on night flying ex following aborted take-off, Sep 42
	Basham	Sgt	Killed when a/c flew into ground during low vis, Jul 42
	Baxter	Sgt	Killed when a/c flew into ground during low vis, Jul 42
	Bayly	Sgt	Killed on return from Op Dusseldorf, Sep 42 (a/c shot down by British Navy - 'friendly ' fire incident)
	Beever, A	Fg Off	Survived wheels up crash landing at SH, May 44
	Blanch, KC	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley LA 879, Sep 43
	Bird, 'Dicky'
	Birkhead	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Apr 41
	Boundy, JG	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley LA 879, Sep 43
	Bradburn L	Plt Off	Killed in a night flying ex, Apr 41
	Brown, BE	Fg Off, RCAF	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley Z 9471, Sep 43
	Brown, CE	Sgt, RCAF	Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Buck LA	Fg Off	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley Z 9471, Sep 43
	Burton, DR	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed after trying to avoid HT lines during attempted forced landing caused by port engine failure, Oct 43
	Burton, JR	Flt Sgt, RAAF	Killed when a/c crashed after trying to avoid HT lines during attempted forced landing caused by port engine failure, Oct 43
	Caiger, CE	Flt Lt	Flew spec.ops with 608 sqn from SH in 1945. Survived war and died in 2005.
	Cameron, SL	Sgt	Survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, near a quarry. Aug 44
	Cantlin, CP	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Capewell, DC	Flt Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Cline, AE	Plt Off, RCAF	Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Cooke, G	Sgt	Survived wheels up crash landing at SH, May 44, and one week later a forced landing due to engine failure.
	Cope, Dave
	Clark N G	Sgt	Killed on night flying ex following aborted take-off, Sep 42
	Clements, GW	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley Z 9471, Sep 43
	Crowther	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Oct 41
	Colley, GE	Sgt	Survived wheels up landing at SH, Apr 44
	Crane, JH	Sgt	Survived t/o incident when a/c swung to stbd; u/c collapsed near Watch office. Died May 44 on Halifax mission (640 Sqn)
	Daniels, Pete	Flt Lt
	Davies L	Plt Off
	Dove, WBM	Plt Off	Survived forced landing after port engine failed at 200' after t/o, May 4
	Dunlop, 'Fatty'
	Eades	Flt Lt
	Eggby, LJ	Fg Off	Survived t/o incident when a/c swung out of control and u/c smashed, Jul 44
	Evans	Sgt	Killed when a/c flew into ground during low vis, Jul 42
	Faulkner, CN	Sgt, RCAF	Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Fisher, Hilma	NCO	'Met' WAAF, worked in Met Office in the control tower. Survived the war.
	Fivash, JE	Flt Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c lost control, Jul 45
	Fletcher, A	Sgt	Pilot of a/c BD 374, inj when a/c force landed after t/o. Later failed to return from mission with 51 sqn to Hamburg, Jul 43
	Franklin, AJ	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c on fire, Jul 45
	Gibson, J	Fg Off	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley Z 9471, Sep 43
	Frost, F	Sgt	Flew on 1st 1000 bomber raid in Whitley 4997. Killed flying with 102 Sqn (Halifax's) on raid over Bochum, 6 Aug 42
	Grant, J	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c lost control.
	Grimmond, JR	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley LA 879, Sep 43
	Gormley
	Gordon-Kay, D	Sgt, RCAF	Killed following inexplicable aborted landing, Nov 42
	Hadley	Sgt	Survived ditching in N.Sea, 18 Nov 42
	Hall, CM	Sgt	Student pilot during landing incident on Z 9207
	Harcourt	Plt Off
	Harnell, A	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Harding
	Hartley	Sgt
	Hilt	Sgt	Killed during landing incident at SH, a/c ran off end of runway at high speed, Mar 43
	Hooley, N	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c on fire, Jul 45
	Howlett, D J	Sgt	Killed flying Halifax on Special Ops with 624 Sqn. Buried in Greece (Phaleron War Cemetary), Dec 43
	Hughes	Flt Lt
	Hutchinson 'Hutch'
	Jackson, D	Sgt	Killed during landing incident at SH, a/c ran off end of runway at high speed (Jackson had transferred from Army,) Mar 43
	Joyce		Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Kelly, BW	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c lost control.
	Knight, RB	Sgt RNZAF	1. Survived t/o incident when a/c swung out of control and u/c smashed, Jul 44. Later died on ops with 630 Sqn (Lancasters), Feb 45
	Knight, RB	Sgt RNZAF	2. Also survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, Aug 44
	Lalo, R J	Flt Lt
	Lamont, J	Sgt RNZAF	Survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, Aug 44
	Lawrence
	Leadley	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Oct 41
	Levitt, C	Flt Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Oct 41
	Lovegrove, Mary	WRAF	Local girl who enlisted and moved away
	Marriot, Bob
	Martin	Sgt	Injured when BD 234 crashed near Eynsham
	Massie	Plt Off
	Mayow, TD	WO	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Matthews, L	Sgt	Killed when a/c flew into ground during low vis, Jul 42
	McIntyre, RF	Sgt RCAF	Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Melville, D	Sgt	Force landed a Martinet I approx 2 miles NE of airfield following engine failure at 650' shortly after t/o from SH
	Miller, G	Sgt
	Minney	Sgt	Killed on night flying ex following aborted take-off, Sep 42
	Mitchell	Sgt, BEM	Killed on night flying ex following aborted take-off, Sep 42
	Monaghan, J	Plt Off	Survived ditching in N.Sea, 18 Nov 42
	Montague, J	Sgt	Survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, Aug 44
	Moore, L	Sgt RCAF	Survived forced landing due to stbd engine fire, 3 miles S of runway, Jul 44.
	Moore, MW	Fg Off	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley LA 879, Sep 43
	Morrison, RL	Fg Off	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c on fire, Jul 45
	Newton, FW	Fg Off	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Nicholas, RJ	Sgt	Killed following inexplicable aborted landing, Nov 42
	Nicoll IK	WO	Killed when a/c crashed after trying to avoid HT lines during attempted forced landing caused by port engine failure, Oct 43
	Page AO	WO	Survived crash landing at SH when port engine cut out at 500' after t/o, Aug 44
	Percival		Killed in a night flying ex, Apr 41
	Pettitt, GL	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Pledge	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Apr 41
	Pratt, Bob	(See log book)	DFC awarded Jan 45. Lived in SH after the war until his death in 2007. Flew in 1st & 2nd 1000 bomber missions.
	Pratley, A	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Oct 41
	Pearson	Plt Off
	Pickett NR	Sgt	Killed following inexplicable aborted landing, Nov 42
	Rendle, ND	Flt Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c on fire, Jul 45
	Regan, TA	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44
	Riley, Derrick. DFC		Trained pilots at SH following completion of tours with bomber cmd. Survived war, died 1993.
	Roberts, RJ	Sgt	Killed during landing incident at SH, a/c ran off end of runway at high speed, Mar 43
	Rose	Sgt	Injured when BD 234 crashed near Eynsham
	Rowan	Sgt	Injured when BD 234 crashed near Eynsham
	Russel	Sgt
	Scarborough HE	Sgt	Killed in mid-air collision with Whitley LA 879, Sep 43
	Sharpe, EA	Sgt	Survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, Aug 44
	Sibley, LRV	Plt Off	Killed when a/c crashed after trying to avoid HT lines during attempted forced landing caused by port engine failure, Oct 43
	Simmonds, Olive	NAAFI	Local, lived and worked in SH until her death in 2009 (nee Green)
	Slater	Sgt	Killed in a night flying ex, Oct 41
	Smart, AE	Sgt	Survived a/c crash after trying to avoid HT lines during attempted forced landing caused by port engine failure, Oct 43
	Snider, Joe
	Sobery, Eve		WAAF clerk who worked in the orderly room.
	Spratt LFK	Sgt	Killed following inexplicable aborted landing, Nov 42
	Steel B R	Plt Off	Killed on night flying ex following aborted take-off, Sep 42
	Stephen	Sgt	Killed when a/c flew into ground during low vis, Jul 42
	Steward, 'Slim'
	Sweeney	Sgt	Killed on return from Op Dusseldorf, Sep 42 (a/c shot down by British Navy - 'friendly ' fire incident)
	Tandy, EOC	Flt Lt	Pilot in command during trg ex when a/c landed at high speed and undercarriage collapsed during taxi
	Taney AW	Sgt	Killed following inexplicable aborted landing, Nov 42
	Tardif, MEP	Fg Off	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c lost control.
	Thompson, DWR	W/O	Survived incident on t/o in Wellington when stbd engine lost power, a/c struck hut and sustained severe damage.
	Turl	Sgt	Survived ditching in N.Sea, 18 Nov 42
	Viney, John		DSO awarded Sep 44
	Walters, RL	Fg Off	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c lost control, Jul 45
	Wakeling RA	Sgt	Injured when BD 234 crashed near Eynsham
	Ward, GW	Sgt RAAF	Survived forced landing/stall in Dec 42, killed on ops over Germany with 102 Sqn (Halifaxes)
	Webb, GG	WO	Survived aircraft crash at SH following engine failure during feathering demo
	Wethered	Sgt	Killed on return from Op Dusseldorf, Sep 42 (a/c shot down by British Navy - 'friendly ' fire incident)
	Weir, WK	Plt Off	Killed during landing incident at SH, a/c ran off end of runway at high speed, Mar 43
	West P	Sgt	Survived engine failure in Tomahawk. Force landed at Abingdon
	Williams, S	Sgt	Killed when a/c crashed near Stow on the Wold during a night nav-ex. Presumed a/c on fire, Jul 45
	Willcocks	Sgt	Survived crash on return from Op Dusseldorf, Sep 42 (Aircraft shot at by British Navy on return from raid -'friendly' fire)
	Wright	Sgt
	Wylie, GP	Flt Sgt RNZAF	Survived forced landing at Swanton Morley, Dec 43
	Young SL	Sgt	Survived landing incident when port engine cut out on approach and a/c crash landed at SH, Aug 44


	10 OTU Incidents (Flight initiating at RAF Stanton Harcourt)

Pilot	Date & Time	Aircraft No.	Incident	Crew
Plt Off L Davies - inj.	21 Apr 41, 0100	N1411	Bounced on landing, lost control, crashed about 1 mile WSW of SH	Crew inj.
Flt Lt J Lalor - inj.	24 Apr 41, 2215	N1503	Night flying trg, landed heavily, a/c scrapped.	(nil casualties)
Plt Off L Bradburn +	29 Apr 41, 0015	P4939	Night flying trg, crashed after t/o approx 1 mile from SH	Sgts Pledge, Birkhead & Percival
Sgt A Pratley +	10 Oct 41, 2115	N1429	Night flying ex, struck tree after t/o and crashed approx 1 mile from SH	n/k
Flt Sgt C Levitt +	24 Oct 41, 0210	P5023	Night flying trg, struck tree at low level and crashed near Eaton, Berks	Sgts Crowther, Slater & Leadley
Sgt G Miller	05 Nov 41, 2115	K8981	A/c ballooned on landing and stalled. Landing damaged a/c beyond repair	(nil casualties)
Plt Off A Pearson	12 Jul 42, 0032	BD 194	A/c lost all power at 6000' and force landed at SH	Crew inj.
WO2 Thompson RCAF	17 Jul 42, 0245	BD 223	A/c wrecked following landing accident	n/k
Sgt L Matthews +	18 Jul 42, 0025	BD 395	A/c flew into ground due to poor visability approx 1 mile from runway	Sgts Baxter, Stephen, Basham & Evans
Sgt A J Adams +	11 Sep 42, 0200	BD 193	Crashed on RTU following mission Op Dusseldorf	Sgts Sweeney, Wethered, Willcocks & Bayly
Sgt Clarke +	27 Sep 42, 0045	BD 376	Night flying ex, crashed following aborted landing	P/Os Bartlett & Steel, Sgts Mitchell & Minney
Sgt D J Howlett	25 Oct 42, 1806	EB 357	RTU following Navex. A/c overshot runway on landing and wrecked	n/k
Sgt AW Taney +	7 Nov 42, 0010	AD 714	A/c crashed following inexplicable decision to overshoot runway.	Sgts Spratt, Nicholas, Pickett, & Gordon-Kay
Sgt A F Adams	18 Nov 42, 1218	EB 360	A/c ditched in N.Sea following loss of engine power.	P/O Monaghan, Sgts Abrams, Hadley & Turl
Sgt GW Ward RAAF	9 Dec 42, 1545	P 5040	Engine failure during X-country ex. Stalled avoiding HT lines when landing.	n/k
Sgt D Brown	16 Jan 43, 0120	BD 234	Night flying trg, crashed approx 2 miles from SH due to engine failure	Sgts Rose, Wakeling, Martin & Rowan
Sgt A Fletcher	19 Feb 43, 1115	BD 374	Engine failure at 100' just after t/o	n/k
Sgt D Jackson +	27 Mar 43,0254	LA 844	Night flying trg, crashed on landing when a/c ran off end of runway.	P/Os Auld & Weir, Sgts Hilt & Roberts
Flt Lt EOC Tandy	20 May 43, 0350	Z 9207	Training flt which ended with high speed landing and u/c damage.	Sgt Hall
WO GG Webb	1 Aug 43, 2209	LA 916	Engine failed to restart following feathering demo; a/c crashed at SH	n/k
Fg Off MW Moore +	17 Sep 43, 2348	Z 9471	Mid-air collision with LA 879 about 2 miles SE of airfield.	Sgts Scarborough, Boundy, Blanch, Grimmond
Fg Off Buck +	17 Sep 43, 2348	LA 879	Mid-air collision with Z9471 about 2 miles SE of airfield.	F/Os Gibson, Brown, Sgts Arthur, Clements
Sgt JH Crane	9 Oct 43, 1450	Z 6966	T/o incident, a/c swings to stbd and u/c collapses.	n/k
FLt Sgt JR Burton +	20 Oct 43, 2330	BD 280	Crashed following attempt to avoid HT lines on forced landing.	WO Nicoll, P/O Sibley, Sgts Burton, Smart.
Flt Sgt GP Wylie	23 Dec 43, 1352	P 4997	Force landing near Swanton Morley due to loss of stbd engine power	Sgt Frost
Fg Off N Newton +	10 Apr 44, 0210	BD 271	Crashed due to structural failure, Apr 44	WO Mayow, FS Capewell, Sgts Pettitt, Cantlin, Regan, Harnell
Sgt P West	24 Feb 44, 0942	AH 860	Tomahawk I - engine failure caused forced landing at Abingdon	(n/k)
Sgt GE Coley	23 Apr 44, 1645	P 5015	Engine & u/c problems, wheels up landing at SH	(n/k)
Fg Off A Beever	1 May 44, 1443	P 4962	Hydraulics failure, a/c crashed at SH with wheels up	(n/k)
Sgt G Cooke	6 May 44, 1535	Z 6798	Port engine failure at 200' after t/o caused forced landing at SH	(n/k)
S/L Bainbridge DFC	12 May 44, 1005	Z9302	Port engine failure at 200' after t/o caused forced landing at SH	(n/k)
Sgt L Moore, RCAF	4 Jul 44, 1210	AD 690	Stbd engine fire caused forced landing 3 miles S of airfield.	PO Cline, Sgts Joyce, Brown, Faulkner, McIntyre
Fg Off LJ Eggby	31 Jul 44, 0115	Z 6499	Swung out of control on t/o, u/c smashed and port wing damaged	Sgt RB Knight
WO AO Page	10 Aug 44, 1705	Z 9474	Crash landed at SH due to port engine failure, with u/c and flaps up.	(n/k)
Flt Sgt RB Knight	24 Aug 44, 0210	BD 215	Port engine cutout on approach, a/c crash landed by quarry at SH	Sgts Montague, Sharpe, Lamont, Young, Cameron
Sgt D Melville	25 Oct 44, 0930	JN 655	Martinet I : Engine cut out at 650' after t/o. Crash landed at 2 miles.	(n/k)
Fg Off R Walters +	11 Jul 45, 0125	LP 873	Presumed lost control of a/c, crashed near Kineton, Stow on the Wold.	F/O Tardif, Flt Sgt Fivash, Sgts Grant & Kelly
WO R N Morrison +	11 Jul 45, 0115	NC 714	A/c on fire in air, crashed near Much Wenlock, Shropshire.	Flt Sgt Rendle, Sgts Hooley, Williams & Franklin
WO DWR Thompson	8 Nov 45, 1706	NA 952	Stbd engine lost power on t/o, a/c struck hut and later written off	n/k


The Carpenters Shop, behind the Turret Trainer

An interesting co-incidence....

I was recently contacted by someone who was researching her family tree, and was aware that her mother had worked in the NAAFI at this unit during the war. We arranged to meet so that her mother could see her old wartime haunt and to show me some of the places she could remember.

As we made our way around the village we happened to pass by a row of cottages. Stood at the end of her garden path was an elderly lady who bid us good morning. Immediately there was a cry of recognition - and disbelief. This was the first time the two old ladies had met in over 50 years!

The two ladies in question are Olive Simmonds (nee Green), who worked in the NAAFI, and Mary Lovegrove (nee Ayres) who lived here and later joined the WRAF.

Drop me a line if you know these two ladies and would like to contact them, or if you have similar stories to tell.

Pete.

6th August 2004

I believe Olive has since died, sometime during 2009.

Hi Pete,

Thanks for your excellent site. We have been researching our uncles RAF history and found he was based with 10 OTU at Stanton Harcourt. His name appears on your list Sgt A J Adams; he died on return from a raid on Dusseldorf Sept 1942.

You list the rest of his crew as killed but I know that the tail gunner Sgt T J Willcocks survived, in fact I have a letter to Joe's dad from him whilst recovering in hospital. Another point of interest was that they might have made it back had the navy not shot at them on the way back ,so called friendly fire!

This I found out from a fellow pilot on the same unit.

Regards, Liz James