Wellington DV810 on Broomhead Moor, near Stocksbridge, Sheffield.

On 9th December 1942 the crew of this No.21 Operational Training Unit aircraft became lost while flying a night cross country training flight in bad weather. The aircraft flew into high ground on Broomhead Moor at 23.40hrs, after hitting the ground it skidded to a halt before a fire in one of the engines took hold and the aircraft burnt out. Of those named below who were injured all were admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield but only the rear gunner was detained for any length of time. The three less seriously injured were released after two days while Sgt Allwright spent three weeks there before being released. Alan Clark's website detailing air accidents in the Peak District covers this incident in far greater detail and I would direct anyone with an additional interest to his website. I include it on this website as it fell in Yorkshire and do not intend repeating all the information contained on his website.

Wellington DV810 was built to contract B.124362/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Hawarden and was awaiting collection in April 1942. It was received by 46 MU on 15th April 1942 and was taken on charge by 21 O.T.U. at Moreton in the Marsh on 22nd April 1942. On 31st May 1942 it was slightly damaged which flying the Thousand Bomber raid on Cologne that saw Cat.Ac/FB damage be the damage assessment. It was repaired on site and returned to 21 O.T.U. on 6th June 1942. As a result of the crash on 9th December 1942 Cat.E2/FA Burnt was the damage assessment and it was struck off charge on 18th December 1942.

Pilot (instructor) - F/O Sidney Baker RAFVR (115867).

Pilot - Sgt Antony St.Clair Turner RAAF (411193), of Gordon, New South Wales, Australia. Head injuries.

Navigator - Sgt Donald Norman Dawson RAAF (405837), of Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia. Suffered shock.

Bomb Aimer - Sgt Ronald Douglas Weeks RAAF (414283), of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Head injuries.

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Walter Samuel Sinclair RAAF (415199), of Northam, Western Australia.

Air Gunner - Sgt Alan Gordon Allwright RAFVR (1324019), of Caversham, Reading, Berkshire. Suffered serious burns.

Sidney Baker was born in Bristol in November 1918 and received a commission on 24th November 1941 to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency) and rose to F/O on probation (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and to F/Lt (war subs) on 13th November 1943. He was awarded the DFC in March 1943. As Acting S/Ldr he was awarded the DSO for service with 7 Squadron, Gazetted on 7th January 1944, the citation reads.. "Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has completed a large number of operational missions many of them in a most responsible role. He has a fine operational record and his ability and devotion to duty have at all times been highly commendable. Squadron Leader Baker has taken part in most of the recent attacks against such targets as Hanover, Leipzig and Berlin and as flight commander his leadership and cooperation have been of the utmost value to his squadron."

On 3rd September 1944 he was promoted to S/Ldr (war subs) and was awarded the Bar to the DFC for servive with 7 Squadron, Gazetted on 8th December 1944. As Acting W/Co he was awarded the Bar to the DSO for service with 635 Squadron, Gazetted on 1st May 1945, the citation reads.. "Wing Commander Baker has completed one hundred sorties, all of them against strongly defended enemy targets. He has displayed the highest qualities of skill and bravery and throughout his devotion to duty has been unfailing. Undeterred by the heaviest opposition, Wing Commander Baker has invariably pressed home his attacks with the greatest resolution. His achievements have won high praise." He was appointed to a permanent commission in the RAF as F/Lt on 1st September 1945 and later rose to S/Ldr on 1st January 1951 and to W/Co on 1st July 1957. He retired from the RAF on 20th June 1966 and died in July 2007.

Of those listed as surviving the incident in the Peak District in December 1942; Turner (23), Dawson (21), Sinclair (20) and Allwright (18) were later posted to 40 Squadron and killed on 19th April 1943 flying in North Africa when Wellington HZ248 was shot down over South Soliman, Tunisia.
Ronald Weeks was back in Australia by March 1943 and was involved in a second flying accident when Ventura A59-60 crashed near Grove, Northern Territory on 22nd March 1943. He was posted to 13 Squadron and survived the War.

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