![]() ![]() It was the infamous Nuremberg raid, a dreadful night in which Bomber Command suffered its highest losses of the war. ![]() SR-X was the last of seven 101 Squadron Lancasters lost that night with 47 of their aircrew killed. This was 101 Sqn Lancaster DV290, coded SR-X and flown by FS Edwin Thomas and his mixed Australian, British and Canadian crew on their 5 th operation. Albert Douglas Wells 1604505īombaimer: Sgt John Winton Anderson 1585397Īt 0503 on the 31 st March 1944 an explosion awoke RAF Welford, the base near Newbury in Berkshire of the US Army Air Corps 435th Troop Carrier Group, and its four C-47 “Skytrain” squadrons.Īt first an air raid was suspected but soon it became clear that a crashing aircraft had caused the blast. Pilot: Flg Off Francis Edward Oliver 124860įlt Eng: Sgt. The cross still exists but is on private land and can only be visited with permission from the landowner. In 1984 Sidney Smith, aged 90, attended a memorial ceremony at the cross and was made an honorary member of the Association for his efforts to save the crew that night. Their names were inscribed on a memorial cross erected by the local squire, William Wright, in their memory and in gratitude at their efforts to miss the hall with his daughter in it. ![]() Sadly, despite his efforts, all seven crew perished. Sidney Smith, a farm foreman working nearby, rushed to the blazing Lancaster and tried to drag the pilot from the cockpit. Three and a half hours later at 20.28hrs it emerged from low cloud, hit treetops at Binbrook Hall and, just missing Scallows Hall, crashed in Scallows Wood. On the 5 th Dec 1943 101 Sqn Lancaster DV270 coded SR-E took off from Ludford Magna at 16.58 hrs on a training flight with Flg Off Francis Oliver and his crew. Scallows Hall Wood Memorial Cross, Nr Binbrook, Lincolnshire. On the wall of the White Hart pub is a bronze plaque dedicated in 2007 to the 740 101 Sqn aircrew and ground crew who were killed while serving at Ludford Magna between June 1943 and May 1945. Also in the church can be found the first 101 Squadron Standard, laid up in 1988. Memorials to 101 Squadron in Ludford include a “Roll of Honour” displayed in the village church with over 1000 names of 101 Sqn aircrew killed in action during WWII. In 2012, to mark the 95th anniversary of 101 Squadron, plaques were added to the Memorial detailing the Battle Honours earned by 101 Squadron since its formation in 1917. This event marks the genesis of the 101 Squadron Association and since then, annually on the first Saturday of September wreaths are laid at the Memorial in remembrance of those who gave their lives in service with 101 Sqn. Over 300 attended and afterwards, at a tea provided by the Ludford WI. On the 16 th July 1978 a memorial to 101 Squadron, paid for by funds raised from veterans, was unveiled at Ludford Magna by AVM Robert “Bob” Blucke DSO AFC, who had commanded Ludford Magna from 1943-45 and earned his DSO flying a 101 Sqn Lancaster on a raid against Mannheim in September 1943. 101 Squadron Memorial Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire. ![]()
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