Wellington W5719 on Kinder Scout, Peak District, Derbyshire.
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Wellington W5719
Wellington bomber W5719 was returning from a raid on Köln when it crashed into the crags of Kinder Scout in the Peak District, England, 31 July 1941.
All crew except one died in the crash. Sergeant Earl Tilley was the tail turret gunner which was flung clear of the bomber when it exploded on hitting the ground. He was able to make his way down to Edale for help.
In PEAKLAND AIR CRASHES – THE NORTH, Pat Cunningham says the Wellington did not drop its bombs as planned, but returned towards RAF Snaith near Goole in Yorkshire, having aborted the mission due to being unable to find the target in cloud covered Germany.
Due to low cloud over Northern England, the pilot overshot the base and crashed while believing to be still 2000 feet above sea level. The bombs exploded on impact, hurling the tail turret and Sergeant Tilley down into Grindsbrook Clough.
Of the 7 other aircraft on that raid, all dropped their bombs, but one failed to make it home, crashing after crossing the English Channel.
One blog on the internet says W5719 had successfully dropped its bombs meanwhile The Lost Bombers database states the Wellington “returned early due adverse weather”.
Crew killed;
Sergeant Percival Harold Charles Parrott, pilot
Sergeant Joseph Arthur Haswell, (supernumerary) second pilot
Sergeant Jack Douglas Evelle, navigator (Canadian)
Sergeant Frederick Kenneth Webber, wireless operator/air gunner
Sergeant Dennis Aloysius Monk, air gunner
Impressive!!!
wow that is impressive great shot
wow that is impressive great shot
How tragic for these poor men.
Do you have a map of these? It would be interesting to have a huge wall map of the area with coloured pins for each crash site and then actual photos of it. I guess that is kind of anal though isn’t it..
No it’s not anal at all; it’s a great idea Sonja. I’ll see what I can sort out.
Interesting stuff .. thanks for the info …..
I was actually wondering same thing as Sonja, I was wondering if you had a map~
Kinder Scout seems to appear several times in these events Ian!
Indeed Bryan. I visited 7 crash sites within a few miles of each other in one day, all on Kinder Scout.
Maps was a good idea, easier to place them once seen on a map. You must have a well worn pair of walking boots I would imagine!
it’s great exercise as these places are rarely near footpaths, cross country walking to get to them. Thanks for your comments, the map was a good idea.
What a responsebility being a pilot really was.
Earl Tilley was my grandfather. I have listened to this story a hundred times! thanks for the pic!
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/34579021@N05/] b_drover
Hi, thanks for dropping by! Always great to hear from relatives of crew members. Good to hear the story is accurate too.
I have a couple of other photos of the scene that I’ve not uploaded. If you like, send me your email address via flickrmail and I will get them to you. There’s one looking up at the cliff facing the other way, and another looking down on the crash site and taking in the valley into which your grandfather’s turret tumbled.
Lucky guy!
sounds great! id love to see them
send them to keithmartin_537@hotmail.com
btw…..oddly enough my other grandfather went down in a plane during the war as well….he was in the tail turret and it also cracked off and slid down a mountain….They both ended up in nazi prison camp and made it out alive….tough stuff
That’s some coincidence! They were made of sterner stuff that generation. Will get those photos to you Keith, thanks again!
Percival Parrott was my maternal grand father. Never knew him, but glad to find out more about this incident.
Hi, i recently came across your website because I noticed the reference to the B29 Over Exposed on a Google map and clicked on it.
I’m fascinated by the photos and stories and wondered if you ever got around to producing a map marking locations of the crash sites
Amazing photos and history
Hi Kevan,
Thank you for your comment. I did have a map at one time… You are right, I should make one again and add it to the website.
Glad you find this stuff interesting!
Ian
PS By the way, I didn’t add the weblink on the Google map of the RB29 crash site on Bleaklow! I wondered what you meant sp looked and was surprised to see it. I knew about it being marked on the map but dind’t know about the link to my wesbite, don’t know who added that?