Crashed Plane in Mrs. Sadler's garden

Photograph in Express & Star newspaper dated 20/09/2003 (not attached as the image may be subject to copyright) taken on 21/7/1941 of crashed Auto Anson Plane in Mrs. Sadler's front garden, 185 Parkfield Rd, Wolverhampton. The parked bicycle belongs to Betty Sadler. Refers to an air accident involving two Czech pilots on a training flight from a local airfield.

The plane was flying at a rooftop level and collided with number 179 Parkfield Rd and also damaged numbers 180 and 181, where Mrs. Doris Willis snatched her 10-month-old son from the falling ceiling - certainly saving his life. The Willis family had to move to Mrs. Sadler's at 185 Parkfield Road until her house was repaired. The inquest report - 23/7/1941 - stated the two airmen had decided to fly low over Parkfields so they could wave to two women with whom they had a 'wartime romance'. They had circled the area for several minutes - over the local brickworks - before slamming into the houses. Both men were killed on impact.