61 Squadron Handley Page Hampden Crew
0.1 miles away
Norfolk
Cawston (1) P.4405 Memorial
Cawston (1), Norfolk
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
It is maintained by Cawston Parish Council.
Type
Memorial stone
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Cawston (1), Norfolk, Norfolk
what3words: ///adopt.procured.outsmart
What Happened
On the night of 10 February 1941, Hampden P4405 of 61 Squadron departed RAF Hemswell on operations. Returning from their mission, the aircraft came down while attempting an emergency landing, crashing into Bluestone Plantation near Cawston, Norfolk. All four crew members were killed: Flight Lieutenant Frutiger, Flight Sergeant Robert Gapp, Sergeant John Hill, and Sergeant Robert Chanin. It was Sergeant Chanin's 21st birthday. The four men are commemorated by a memorial in Cawston, unveiled in a ceremony attended by relatives of the airmen and representatives of the Royal British Legion.
Community Connection
In 2018, some Cawston parishioners remembered the crash.
Remembrance
An annual commemorative service is held on 2 September.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Crew (4 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Cawston Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Aylsham & District Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Cawston Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Cawston Parish Council (Norfolk)Parish Council
Correct parish council for Cawston, Norwich — previous contact was Cawston, Warwickshire (wrong parish)
Further Reading
North Norfolk NewsRetrieved 2026-03-23
News article about the memorial to the four airmen of Hampden P4405 who crashed in Norfolk. The crew, Flt Lt Frutiger, Sgt Chanin, Sgt Hill, and Flt Sgt Gapp of 61 Squadron, were returning from a mission to Wilhelmshaven on 10 February 1941.
What you'll find: News article about Cawston Memorial honoring four airmen of Hampden P4405 who tragically crashed in Norfolk.
Returning from Wilhelmshaven raidCrashed at Bluestone Plantation between Heydon and CawstonTook off from Hemswell at 0220, crashed at 0650
Cawston HeritageRetrieved 2026-03-23
Local heritage record of the Hampden bomber crash at Bluestone Plantation near Cawston. Documents the crash of P4405 from 61 Squadron RAF Hemswell during a forced landing attempt after returning from operations over Germany.
What you'll find: Explore local heritage: Discover the story behind Hampden bomber crash at Bluestone Plantation near Cawston.
Crash at Bluestone PlantationSquadron code QRForced landing attempt
RAF CommandsRetrieved 2026-03-23
RAF Commands casualty database entry for Sergeant J.E. Hill (935567), one of the four crew killed in the Hampden P4405 crash at Cawston on 10 February 1941.
What you'll find: Detailed RAF commands casualty data about Sergeant J.E. Hill's tragic loss in a 1941 Hampden aircraft crash at Cawston.
Sgt Hill service number 935567Official casualty record
Nearby Memorials
Sources
North Norfolk News (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Cawston Heritage (retrieved 2026-03-23)
RAF Commands (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Norfolk (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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