Moordown air disaster

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The Halifax Memorial at Moordown.

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

Second World War.[1] 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.[2] The plane clipped buildings, including a Victorian chapel and the tram depot.[3] The plane crashed in a residential area at the corner of Wimborne Road and Meadow Court Close.[4] With a full fuel tank the plane burst into flames.[5] There were no survivors on board.[6] Two civilians were also killed in their homes.[5]

Casualties

The plane crash resulted in nine fatalities:[5]

From the

RAF Volunteer Reserve

In the Royal Canadian Air Force

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.[7] However it is now believed that a known design issue with the Halifax was the main cause.[5] In 2010, Moordown councillor Sue Anderson advocated a permanent memorial as part of Bournemouth's bicentennial.[8] In 2011, a memorial was unveiled to commemorate the air crash.[9] The 70th anniversary was marked at the memorial.[10]

References

  1. ISBN 978-1526783523
    .
  2. ^ "Wartime Halifax bomber crash on Winton". winton.infoflash.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  3. ^ "Remembering fateful 1944 day a bomber crashed down". Bournemouth Echo. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  4. ^ "Memorial tribute to Halifax bomber crew in place". Bournemouth Echo. 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  5. ^ a b c d "A forgotten tragedy: 70th anniversary of RAF Halifax bomber crash in Moordown". Bournemouth Echo. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  6. ^ "Moordown Halifax Bomber Crash". www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  7. ^ "Family of Bournemouth bomber crash pilot Denis Evans in justice call". BBC News. 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  8. ^ "We want tribute to crash heroes". Bournemouth Echo. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  9. ^ "Memorial tribute to Halifax bomber crew in place". Bournemouth Echo. 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  10. ^ "Victims of the Halifax bomber crash are remembered as residents gather to mark 70th anniversary". Bournemouth Echo. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2023-12-10.

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