Memories of a plane crash
The contributor found this propeller tip in 1966 underneath trees where Whitely N1439 had crashed on 11.02.1942. It crashed in at Upwood Park, Besselsleigh at his grandfather Arthur Godfrey James's house. It was on a training flight, perhaps belonging to RAF Abingdon, and crashed at night. Three of the crew were killed and one survived- Sergeant David Eric Hughes. The plane was very low and pancaked on to the ground. It went through a hedge and came to a halt up against a tree. The house was undamaged but the plane was on fire.
Their Irish housemaid wrapped herself in a blanket, ran outside and pulled the survivor from the burning plane.
An eyewitness, Mr Stimpson, was cycling back along A338 and saw a glow. He turned down the lane to see what it was and fell off his bike after hitting a headless body.
