Memorial to RCAF crew of crashed Lancaster KB993 and also to USAAF crew of crashed C-47 42-108982

Avro Lancaster KB993 crash site on James’s Thorn above Ashton Clough in Derbyshire. It would appear the pilot, while on a correct heading, had failed to take into account the height of the Pennines east of Manchester and the Lancaster crashed as it climbed up and out of the valley.

In Peakland Air Crashes – The North (2006), P Cunningham writes “…on 22 May 1995… a ceremony was held on the site with some participants being helicoptered in. Foremost among these was Mrs Marion Clifford, the 91 year old mother of Flying Officer Clifford; she and other relatives being picturesquely supported by pipes and drums from the Clan Urquhart Highlanders.”

The lower plaque reads;

UNVEILED ON 18th MAY 1995 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CRASH OF KB993 BY MRS MARION CLIFFORD, CANADA. ERECTED BY PAUL BOOTH AND STEPHEN LEWIS TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE KILLED.

The upper one reads;

ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 18th 1945 AVRO LANCASTER KB993 OF CANADIAN 408 SQUADRON CRASHED AT THIS PLACE.
THE CREW WERE FLYING CIRCUITS AND BUMPS

F.O A.A CLIFFORD
F.O D.A FEHRMAN
W.O M.C CAMERON
F.S C.J HALVORSON
F.S L.C HELLERSON
P.O K.B McIVER

TWENTY SEVEN DAYS LATER 408 GOOSE SQUADRON RETURNED TO CANADA.

FOR FREEDOM.

NEARBY ON THE MOOR BELOW LIE THE REMAINS OF C47 SKYTRAIN 2108982 WHICH CRASHED ON THE 24 JULY 1945 WITH THE LOSS OF ALL ON BOARD.

1st Lt G.L.JOHNSON USAAF
1st Lt E.W.BURNS USAAF
1st Lt B.W. IZLAR USAAF
Sgt T.R. McCROCKLIN USAAF
Sgt F.M MALONEY USAAF
Cpl G.R ALEXANDER USAAF
LAC J.D MAIN RAF

IN MEMORY
THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN