Hampden L4055 near Holmfirth.
At around 21.00hrs on 22nd May 1940 this 83 Squadron aircraft took off from Scampton for an operational flight to France, L4055 is believed to have been attacking targets around Rouen in advance of the German invasion of Belgium and France. All the aircraft on operational flights on this night were recalled because of deteriorating weather over the English airfields but one
other aircraft failed to receive the recall signal and went on to bomb the target. As the aircraft returned to Northern England the weather closed in. The last fix on the aircraft put it flying over the mouth of The Humber at 00.10hrs. While flying in thick fog the aircraft crashed at around 02.10hrs on high ground near Holmfirth, towards the northern end of the Peak District. It had crashed a mile from where Swordfish P4223 crashed some months earlier.
In his "Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks 2" book Mr Ron Collier adds further information; the weather over the target was poor and this crew brought their bombs home having
found nothing worthwhile to bomb, at this stage in the War crews were still bringing their bombs home if they could not identify the target, later in the War crews
usually dropped then at sea. On the return trip other 83 Squadron aircrews were diverted to airfields in Norfolk because of poor weather in Lincolnshire but the wireless
set of this aircraft had failed during the return leg and they were not aware of the poor weather which would await them. After flying above cloud for some period of
time the crew opted to descend and try and find an airfield. The aircraft let down in the Holmfirth area and unknown to the crew they soon struck high ground. All four
crew were killed in the crash. Of note is that Guy Gibson was flying with 83 Squadron on this night (later awarded the VC with 617 Squadron). Pretty much all that
remains at the crash site of L4055 today is a large crater made as a result of one of the bombs being disposed of in the weeks after the crash. Of the four airmen killed,
Mr Collier's book pictures three of them, the four men were..
Pilot - Sgt Stanley William Jenkins RAF (580289), aged 23, of Rotherham, Yorkshire. Buried Nettleham Old Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Observer - Sgt Peter William Josse RAF (359518). Of Yorkshire. Buried Nettleham Old Churchyard, Lincolnshire.
Air Gunner (or Observer?) - Sgt Alan Marsh RAF (580966). Buried Bolsover Churchyard, Derbyshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - AC1 Willie Thornton RAF (625669), aged 19, of St Helens. Buried St Helens Cemetery, Lancashire.
Willie Thornton's grave in St.Helens Cemetery, Lancashire. He was born on 17th July 1920.
Peter Josse was born in Hull, Yorkshire on 17th February 1906.
Hampden L4055 was built to contract 549267/36 by Handley Page Ltd. at Radlett. It was allotted to 83 Squadron on 21st November 1938 and was taken on charge by them on 25th November 1938. It was taken on charge by 32 M.U. briefly on 5th January 1940 but returned to 83 Squadron at Scampton on 10th January 1940. It moved with 83 Squadron to Lossiemouth on 21st February 1940 and returned with them to Scampton on 20th March 1940. Following the accident near Holmfirth on 23rd May 1940 Cat.W/FB(Burnt) damage was the damage assessment and the aircraft was written off. It was struck off charge on 3rd June 1940.