Date: 8th December 1942
Time: 00.05 hours.
Unit: No. 21 (O.T.U.) Operational Training Unit.
Type: Vickers Armstrong Wellington IC
Serial No: DV425
Base: Moreton -in-Marsh.
Location: High Furze, Tidmington, 1 mile W of Burmington, Warwickshire.
Pilot: Sgt Vincent Thomas Drew. 1219728 Age. 28 - Killed.
W/Op/A/Gnr: Sgt Cyril Edward Raggett. 1332125 Age. 20 - Killed.
Sgt Laurie Arthur McGuire. 412070 (R.A.A.F.) Age. 23 - Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft took off from its base at Moreton-in-Marsh for night circuits and landings. While so engaged it began to rain quite heavily and the crew were advised to hold off until the storm had passed. Unfortunately, control of the aircraft was lost and the bomber came down four miles downwind of the flare path at 0005 hours, hitting the high ground at High Furze, which lies approximately two miles SSW of Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. Sadly all three crew members perished in the crash.
Low level flying Wellington IC (IWM).
A view looking out from the crash site at High Furze pictured 2003 (Brownless)
Harness Anchorage label found on the surface at crash site (Brownless)
Remove only for jettison label (Brownless)
Bomb Sight label (King)
Grave of the pilot Vincent Thomas Drew (A.R.S. archive)
Burial details:
Sgt Drew lies in the Walsall (Ryecroft) Cemetery. Sec 14. Grave.317 Son of George and Sarah Jane Drew, of Walsall; husband of Elsie Drew, of Great Barr, Birmingham.
Sgt Raggett rests in Hoo, St. Werburgh Churchyard. Son of Cecil Edward and Clara Blanche Raggett, of Hoo.
Sgt McGuire was buried locally at Moreton-in-Marsh New Cemetery. Sec.K Grave.32 Son of Albert John and Eliza McGuire, of Kingstown New South Wales, Australia.
Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless, with thanks to the IWM Lambeth. Updated February 2014.
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