Bomber Command Memorial Register

Hatcliffe Top Lancaster Memorial

Hatcliffe Top, Lincolnshire

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.

Location

Hatcliffe Top, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire

what3words: ///subsets.laminate.punks

Aircraft & Operation Details

100 Sqdn. badgeSarang tebuan jangan dijolok
Aircraft Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
JB596
Squadron
100 Sqdn.
Station
Grimsby
Date of Loss
1943-12-17

Crew

4 killed; pilot Flg Off. Robert Laval Proudfoot

Memorial Details

Type
Memorial plaque

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Hatcliffe Parish Meeting

Local Contacts

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

Great Grimsby Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Hatcliffe Parish Meetingparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23

The IWM register lists this memorial as commemorating Lancaster JB596 of 100 Squadron. The crash occurred on 17 December 1943, part of the notorious 'Black Thursday' Berlin raid when thick fog caused heavy losses among returning crews.

IWM memorial reference 51672Part of Black Thursday losses 16-17 December 194325 Lancasters lost on Berlin operation plus 31 more on return due to fog

GeographRetrieved 2026-03-23

Photographic record of the memorial stone at Hatcliffe Top showing it incorporates a piece of the aircraft's skin and relics from the crash. The Lancaster hit a tree close to the memorial site and crashed into the pine trees behind.

Memorial incorporates aircraft skin fragmentAircraft hit treetop before crashing into pine plantation

CWGCRetrieved 2026-03-23

CWGC records confirm crew details for the Black Thursday losses. The pilot Flg Off. Robert Laval Proudfoot was aged 24. Four crew were killed (Proudfoot, Sgt Sidney David Viggers aged 19, Sgt John Bamford aged 23, Sgt Bernard Heaton aged 21) while three crew survived with serious injuries. A farm worker was severely burned rescuing survivors from the blaze.

Pilot aged 24Three crew survived with serious injuriesFarm worker burned during rescue attemptFlight engineer Viggers was only 19

Sources

  • Geograph(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph (retrieved 2026-03-23)
CWGC (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

Waithe (1) Lancaster Memorial
Waithe (1), LincolnshireLancaster1943-12-17
5.7 km
away
Waithe (2) Lancaster Memorial
Waithe (2), LincolnshireLancaster1943-12-17
5.7 km
away
Waithe (4) Lancaster Memorial
Waithe (4), LincolnshireLancaster1943-12-16
5.7 km
away
Scallows Hall Lancaster Memorial
Scallows Hall, Wold Newton, LincolnshireLancaster1943-12-05
7.1 km
away
North Thoresby Lancaster Memorial
North Thoresby, LincolnshireLancaster1943-10-04
7.1 km
away

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

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

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