Not the Stirling which crashed on Old Cote Moor, but Stirling LK280 and is seen here at Rivenhall in 1945. It was used by 570
Sqdn in an SOE role and flew on the Rhine "Varsity" operation with F/Lt David Campbell RAFVR as pilot (photo Mr David Campbell Jnr).
The sheer size of the aircraft is illustrated well by the crew next to the main wheel.
On the 15th of August 1944 the crew of this aircraft were undertaking a night taining exercise at 8000ft, during
which the port outer engine failed and was feathered, a short while later the starboard outer engine suffered the same trouble.
The pilot attempted to maintain height on the two functioning engines but at 4500ft he ordered his crew to bale out and
five exited the aircraft. The aircraft crashed a short while later into high ground near Arncliffe in Littondale and disintergrated at 02.20hrs. The pilot and the
navigator were sadly killed in the crash as they had not being able to get clear in time. It
was thought the navigator had stayed with the aircraft for a while to help the pilot and by the time
he made his exit he was too low to the high ground below for his parachute to work properly and was
killed. Some speculation remains as to whether the pilot died when in the resulting crash or whether he also
jumped too late; whatever the actual answer, he too was killed. The aircraft struck the top of a ridge
between Littondale and Wharfedale and crashed on its south-western side.
A note was made in the investigation that the crew had been involved in an incident afew nights previously flying Stirling EF235 and had lost an engine
in similar circumstances. they made a forced landing on an airfield away from their home base. Whilst never proved there was a suggstion that
the two incidents were as a result of the level of the fuel tanks being "mis-handled".
Pilot - P/O Donald McF Bowe RAAF (419550), aged 20, of Maldon, Victoria, Australia. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (sec E, row B, grave 2).
F Eng - Sgt L R Frazer RAF (1824355) Sgt I K Fraser
F Eng - Sgt S Nelson RAF (3040117) Sgt F G Nelson
Nav - F/Sgt Robert J Douglas RAAF (426559), aged 22, Annerley, Queensland, Australia. Buried Harrogate Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire (sect E, row B, grave 3). He was born on the 30th of June 1922 in Cairns, Qld, he enlisted in Brisbane on the 18th of July 1942.
AB - F/Sgt C O'Neill RAAF (429825), ok. Possibly Cyril J O'Neill RAAF, born 15 Sept 1922, Homebush, NSW, enlisted 2 Dec 1942 in Perth, discharged 11 Mar 1946 as a Sgt with 78 Sqdn.
WOp - F/Sgt G Maloney RAAF (424667), ok. Probably George I Maloney RAAF, born Henty, NSW 9 March 1922, enlisted 6 Oct 1942, discharged 10 Jan 1946 as a Warr Off.
RG - Sgt C M Davis RAF (1836609). Slightly injured.
Donald Bowe was born 2nd September 1923 in Malden, Victoria. He had three brothers; John, the eldest who would see Wartime service;
Norman who was a year younger than Don and would also serve in the RAAF and Frank who was much younger. Both of their parents had died during
the first half of the War, Norman would then live with the elder brothers family until he grew up.
Donald had originally enlisted into
the Australian Army on the 19th of January 1942 in North Williamstown, Newport, Victoria but was discharged from this service
on the 18th of August 1942 to enlist into the RAAF two days later on the 20th of August 1942 in Melbourne. He had left Australia
soon after to begin his training.
Robert Douglas was born on the 30th of June 1922 in Cairns, Queensland. Prior to enlisting he was a qualified slaughterman, enlisted into the RAAF Reserve on
24th January 1942 and later the regular RAAF on 18th July 1942 in and embarked at Brisbane on 30th April 1943 for Canada and
eventually the UK where he arrived in September 1943 and trained at 17 OTU.
I visited the site in August 2005.
