Bomber Command Memorial Register

Desborough Fortress Memorial

Desborough, Northamptonshire

Partial Record
Approximate location?

Help us verify this location. This memorial's position is not yet precisely confirmed. If you have local knowledge, photographs, or documentary evidence of the exact site, we'd love to hear from you.

Photographs

5d33786d05040 Stoke Albany 1 547x410
5d33786d05040 Stoke Albany 1 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d33786e8de83 Stoke Albany 2 547x410
5d33786e8de83 Stoke Albany 2 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d33786fd58a6 Stoke Albany 3 547x410
5d33786fd58a6 Stoke Albany 3 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d33787121bde Stoke Albany 4 547x410
5d33787121bde Stoke Albany 4 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d33787259c67 Stoke Albany 5 547x410
5d33787259c67 Stoke Albany 5 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
62659885c8465 P1070485 547x410
62659885c8465 P1070485 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online

Location

Desborough, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire

what3words: ///coil.sprayer.stumps

Aircraft & Operation Details

90 Squadron badgeCeler
Aircraft Type
B-17 Fortress
Serial Number
AN534
Squadron
90 Squadron
Station
Polebrook
Date of Loss
1941-07-28

Crew

7 killed including Flt Sgt. Hubert Charles Gerard Brook

Memorial Details

Type
Memorial stone

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Desborough Town Council

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Desborough & District Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Desborough Town Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23

Memorial record for the crew of Boeing Fortress Mk.I AN534 WP-E of 90 Squadron. The aircraft suffered catastrophic structural failure during a high-altitude test flight on 28 July 1941, with the starboard wing breaking off in severe turbulence.

Fortress Mk.I (ex-USAAC B-17C, s/n 40-2053)Starboard wing structural failure in severe turbulenceDeparted Polebrook at 17:00 for high altitude testCrashed 4 miles west of Corby near Stoke Albany

RAF Commands ArchiveRetrieved 2026-03-23

RAF Commands forum discussion with historical details of Flying Fortress AN534 from 90 Squadron. Documents the aircraft's history as one of the early RAF-operated B-17s based at Polebrook.

One of earliest RAF B-17 operations90 Squadron at Polebrook

B-17 Bomber Flying FortressRetrieved 2026-03-23

Reference entry on 90 Squadron's operation of Boeing Fortress aircraft. Documents the squadron's use of early B-17C models received under Lend-Lease, including AN534.

90 Squadron Fortress operations documentedEarly Lend-Lease B-17C aircraft

Sources

  • Geograph(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
RAF Commands Archive (retrieved 2026-03-23)
B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

(Location via IWM) Wellington Memorial
(Location via IWM), IWM-Registered Bomber Crash Memorials (Peak/Pennines)Wellington
11.3 km
away
Brigstock Lancaster Memorial
Brigstock, NorthamptonshireLancaster1943-12-22
13.8 km
away
Wollaston Manchester Memorial
Wollaston, NorthamptonshireAvro Manchester1941-06-22
22.9 km
away
Leicester Lancaster Memorial
Leicester, LeicestershireLancaster04/02/1946 (post-war)
30.7 km
away
Melton Mowbray Wellington Memorial
Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireWellington1944-08-13
36.5 km
away

Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.

Suggest a correction or addition

Can You Help Complete This Record?

This record for Desborough Fortress Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.

Email admin@bombermemorial.co.uk or contribute directly via our GitHub repository