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Flight Lieutenant Derek Woodhead Jackson, aged 23
Lieutenant Frederick James Burgess, aged 22
Sergeant Leslie Lawrance Bull, aged 32
Flight Sergeant Thomas Henry Brown, aged 23
Flight Sergeant Frank Nicholson, aged 24
On 22 March 1943, two Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V bombers from 296 Squadron, based at RAF Hurn, Dorset, flying in formation, were returning from a routine training flight when they collided mid-air in turbulence over a field in Fotheringhay. All five men in one of the aircraft lost their lives. The second aircraft was piloted by Flying Officer Robert Tope Hamer and, despite damage to his aircraft, he managed to land it on one wheel at Polebrook. F/O Hamer died five months later, tragically shot down in error by US Navy Anti-aircraft fire during the Allied invasion of Sicily.
A letter from Fotheringhay farmer, Mr A B Gould, 12 April 1943: The inhabitants of this village wish to express their deepest sympathy with the relatives of the crew of the two-engined plane that crashed and burnt out close to this village on March 22nd last. Those who saw the plane coming down are unanimously of the opinion that the pilot saved the village considerable damage and probable loss of civilian life by his action, although his last one, in turning the plane.
On Sunday, 22 March 2026, a service of commemoration for the lives of these five men took place at the Church of St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay, led by Revd Annie Goldthorp. This was followed by an Act of Remembrance, led by Revd Flt Lt Tim Williamson from RAF Wyton, and the unveiling of a permanent granite memorial near the crash site.
Wreaths with fabric poppies were made by Yvonne, who lives in Fotheringhay, with a photo of each man. These are kept in the church.
The information about the men and the accident on 22 March 1943 is now in a special folder in Fotheringhay Church. This was previously on temporary display boards but the folder will be kept there permanently for everyone to read.
