Moordown air disaster
{{Short description|1944 bomber crash in England}}
{{Infobox Aircraft accident
| name = Moordown air disaster
| image = Moordown, the Halifax Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 3219977.jpg
| alt =
| caption = The Halifax Memorial at Moordown.
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = 21 March 1944
| type = Mechanical failure
| site = Moordown, England
| coords =
| aircraft_type = Handley Page Halifax
| aircraft_name = Halifax JP137
| operator = Royal Air Force
| tail_number =
| origin = Hurn Airport
| stopover =
| stopover0 =
| last_stopover =
| destination = Morocco
| passengers =
| crew = 7
| fatalities = 9
| injuries =
| missing =
| survivors = 0
| occupants = 7
}}
On 21 March 1944, a Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax bomber crashed in Moordown, Hampshire (now Dorset) soon after take-off from RAF Hurn (now known as Bournemouth Airport) killing nine people.
Crash
The Halifax, serial number JP137, was dispatched from No 3 Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit at Hurn at 00:33 hours bound for Morocco on transfer to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in the Second World War.{{cite book |last1=Hudson |first1=Mary |title=RAF WWII Operational and Flying Accident Casualty Files in The National Archives: Exploring their Contents |date=2020 |publisher=Air World |isbn=978-1526783523 |pages=170–171}} Flying westerly, the plane turned into a wide arc, presumably in an attempt to return to Hurn, it flew over East Howe towards Wallisdown turning south over Talbot Woods and due east over Winton when it descended towards Moordown.{{Cite web |title=Wartime Halifax bomber crash on Winton |url=http://winton.infoflash.co.uk/halifax.html |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=winton.infoflash.co.uk}} The plane clipped buildings, including a Victorian chapel and the tram depot.{{Cite web |date=2010-09-29 |title=Remembering fateful 1944 day a bomber crashed down |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/8419002.remembering-fateful-1944-day-a-bomber-crashed-down/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} The plane crashed in a residential area at the corner of Wimborne Road and Meadow Court Close.{{Cite web |date=2011-07-08 |title=Memorial tribute to Halifax bomber crew in place |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9129813.memorial-tribute-to-halifax-bomber-crew-in-place/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} With a full fuel tank the plane burst into flames. There were no survivors on board.{{Cite web |title=Moordown Halifax Bomber Crash |url=https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/255340 |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk |language=en}} Two civilians were also killed in their homes.
Casualties
The plane crash resulted in nine fatalities:{{Cite web |date=2014-03-26 |title=A forgotten tragedy: 70th anniversary of RAF Halifax bomber crash in Moordown |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/11103062.a-forgotten-tragedy-70th-anniversary-of-raf-halifax-bomber-crash-in-moordown/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
From the RAF Volunteer Reserve
- Pilot Sergeant Denis Evans, 20, of Middlesex
- Navigator Sgt Henry Roberts, 35, of Gloucestershire
- Bomb Aimer Flying Officer Stanley Appleton, 30, of Wembley
- Wireless Operator Sgt George Alexander, 23, of Bedford
- Flight Engineer Sgt Stanley Gent, 22, of Portslade
- Air Gunner Sgt Kenneth Green, 20, of Kingston upon Hull
In the Royal Canadian Air Force
- Air Gunner Sgt Reginald McGregor, 21, of New Westminster, Canada
Civilians
- Dorothea Bennett, 59, of Flat 9 Meadow Court, Wimborne Road
- Percy Chislett, 49, of 1027 Wimborne Road
Legacy
Despite eyewitnesses reporting engine failure, official reports into the crash squarely blamed the 20-year-old pilot Denis Evans.{{Cite news |date=2012-01-23 |title=Family of Bournemouth bomber crash pilot Denis Evans in justice call |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-16680171 |access-date=2023-12-10}} However it is now believed that a known design issue with the Halifax was the main cause. In 2010, Moordown councillor Sue Anderson advocated a permanent memorial as part of Bournemouth's bicentennial.{{Cite web |date=2010-11-10 |title=We want tribute to crash heroes |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8626597.we-want-tribute-to-crash-heroes/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} In 2011, a memorial was unveiled to commemorate the air crash.{{Cite web |date=2011-07-08 |title=Memorial tribute to Halifax bomber crew in place |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/9129813.memorial-tribute-to-halifax-bomber-crew-in-place/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}} The 70th anniversary was marked at the memorial.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-25 |title=Victims of the Halifax bomber crash are remembered as residents gather to mark 70th anniversary |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/11098868.victims-of-the-halifax-bomber-crash-are-remembered-as-residents-gather-to-mark-70th-anniversary/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}{{Bournemouth}}{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1944}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United Kingdom in the 1940s}}
{{coord missing|United Kingdom}}
Category:1944 disasters in the United Kingdom
Category:August 1944 in the United Kingdom
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1944
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in England
Category:Disasters in Hampshire
Category:History of Bournemouth
Category:Accidents and incidents involving Royal Air Force aircraft