Wasperton memorial.

[airfields man]

Wasperton is just off the A429, about 4 miles northwards from Wellesbourne towards Warwick. These photographs were taken 10-2-1987. Calling at Wasperton late last year we discovered that this memorial is due to be re-furbished, could be done by now? Some people said that the propellor blades are from a Wellington another from a Blenheim, don't think that anyone really knows. I haven't got a map ref for this which would be handy as it's about a mile walk across the fields. Sherbourne church,with the Dambuster plaque is also close by, just down from J15 of the M40.

[worcester aviation]

25/08/1942 Wellington X9929 of 22 OTU stalled and crashed at Wasperton. P/O G L Shaw RCAF, P/O E F Stoll RCAF, F/Sgt A Leether RCAF, Sgt R H Harper RCAF and Sgt E T Spears RCAF were all killed.

[kebecker]

25/08/1942 Wellington X9929 of 22 OTU stalled and crashed at Wasperton. P/O G L Shaw RCAF, P/O E F Stoll RCAF, F/Sgt A Leether RCAF, Sgt R H Harper RCAF and Sgt E T Spears RCAF were all killed.

The crew now lay at peace in Straford Upon Avon Cemetery, Evesham Road


Lest We Forget

[Dave Smith]

I was present at the Wellington dig in the mid-1970s. As I remember, the propeller was from the aircraft. The other crash involved a Whitley from 24 OTU, Honeybourne. It flew into the steep bank visible across the Avon in the first photo. It was flying too low in bad vis at night. At that time, there were many small pieces strewn down the slope.

[airfields man]

25/08/1942 Wellington X9929 of 22 OTU stalled and crashed at Wasperton. P/O G L Shaw RCAF, P/O E F Stoll RCAF, F/Sgt A Leether RCAF, Sgt R H Harper RCAF and Sgt E T Spears RCAF were all killed.

Any new news on the re-furbishment of this memorial as we were told 18 months or-so ago?

[castaline]

Hello. I registered on this forum after coming across it whilst doing a bit of research on the Wasperton memorial. I'm an angler who regularly fishes this stretch of the Avon.
I can confirm that the memorial has been refurbished and improved, and recently a new plaque has been added with the names of the deceased airmen. I'll try and post a couple of photos.

Lest we forget.

Best regards, Castaline.

[airfields man]

Welcome to the forum castaline. Many thanks for the above information, look forward to seeing some photographs of the newly refurbished memorial as and when....

[castaline]

Hello Airfields man, thanks for the welcome.
This photograph of the memorial was taken last July. As I said, there is also now a small plaque in front of the plinth with the airmen's names on it. No photo available at the moment, but I'll be fishing there again soon, and will post an updated picture.

Best regards, Castaline.

[airfields man]

Nice-one castaline, thanks for that. Is it still in the same position?

[castaline]

Yes, the memorial is still in the same location. It's on a stretch of the river controlled by Birmingham Anglers Association and you can drive to the riverside, weather conditions permitting. By coincidence, it's also the best fishing spot on the section, well known to us Brummie anglers, and is called, not suprisingly, the 'propellor peg'...

Re; Dave Smith's post about the dig in the 1970's. I read somewhere that in the summer of 1976 a dredging operation was carried out to recover wreckage from the river itself. Would this be the same operation that Dave was involved with? I believe that the recovered material was taken to nearby Wellesbourne Mountford airfield for storage. Any information about the recovery operation would be much appreciated.

Best regards, Castaline.