Wellington R1708 near Misson, Yorkshire / Nottinghamshire border.
On 13th June 1941 this 25 O.T.U. aircraft was attacked and shot down by an enemy Junkers Ju88 night-fighter, piloted by Oblt Semrau of NJG/2. The Wellington crew
had been returning to their Finningley base at the time of the attack and the Wellington crashed near Misson at 01.50hrs and the crew of six were sadly killed.
The location is very close to the Nottinghamshire border and it may infact be outside Yorkshire and be out of the region for inclusion in this website.
Pilot - F/Sgt Walter Robert Laidlow Collyer RAFVR (748379), aged 22, of Aberdour. Buried Aberdour Cemetery, Fifeshire.
Observer - Sgt James Francis Markham RAFVR (960989), aged 20, of Stowupland, Suffolk. Buried Finningley Churchyard Extension, Yorkshire.
Observer - Sgt John Ernest Jackson RAFVR (1250304), aged 20. Buried Norwich Cemetery, Norfolk.
Wireless Operator - Sgt James Marron Taylor RAFVR (1100675), aged 26, of Forfar. Buried Forfar Cemetery, Angus.
Wireless Operator - Sgt Gordon Eric Blake RAF (915475), aged ? Buried Stoke Road Cemetery, Slough, Buckinghamshire.
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - F/Sgt Terence Alfred Grosvenor RAF (653716), aged 21, parents living in Katihar, Bihar, India. Buried Carisbrooke Cemetery, Isle of Wight.
Sgt James Markhams's grave at Finningley and Sgt Jackson's grave in Norwich Cemetery, Norfolk . Jackson's grave photograph found on the internet and uploaded by "Mooninpappa06").
Terence Grosvenor was born in the Stourbridge area of Lancashire in 1921. His father James was or had been a station master. Terence is also commemorated
on the Trafford Park Cenotaph in Manchester.
Wellington R1708 was built to contract 992424/39 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd. at Chester (Broughton). It was received by 24 M.U. on 2nd April 1941 and was taken on charge by 25 O.T.U. at Finningley on 26th April 1941. As a result of the accident on 13th June 1941 Cat.E/FB damage was recorded. It was struck off charge six days later and had clocked up 46 hours total flying time.