World War Two crash crews memorial plan in Bleasby

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-36268812

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A memorial to three World War Two crews who died in crashes close to a Nottinghamshire village is planned.

About £8,000 is needed for the tribute, which would incorporate the tail fin of a Lancaster Bomber and be placed on the main road in Bleasby.

Four Polish airmen died shortly after taking off from RAF Syerston, in 1941, and 15 other men died when two Lancasters collided in mid-air in 1943.

Campaigner Ken Ogilvie said he hoped the memorial could be in place by 2018.

He said: "My father, who was wounded in the war, always told me that I'd be lucky if I didn't have to fight in a war and I haven't had to do that.

"I regard the sacrifice made by these men has given me the peace in my life time and that's what we need to remember."

Mr Ogilvie has some of the parts recovered by a farmer of the crashed Wellington R1014, which the Polish crew were flying, including a bulb holder and a Morse code taper.

The aircraft came down shortly after take-off during a training flight, on fields close to the village school, killing all the crew, on 6 February 1941.

On 1 September 1943, Lancaster JB132 collided in mid-air with Lancaster R5698 over High Cross in Bleasby.

JB132 was returning from a bombing raid in Berlin and was close to landing at RAF Syerston.

All 19 men who died in the crashes are buried at Newark Cemetery.

Wellington R1014 crew:

Avro Lancaster Bomber R5698 crew:

Avro Lancaster Bomber JB132 crew: