High Ercall area OTU Memorial
High Ercall area, Shropshire
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Photographs
Location
High Ercall area, Shropshire, Shropshire
what3words: ///hobby.trackers.hazy
Aircraft & Operation Details
Detailed Record
Compiled from heritage archives and aviation records. Source links provided below for original materials.
Date: 22nd November 1944 (Wednesday)
Unit: 60 Operational Training Unit
Base: RAF High Ercall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Location: West Bromwich
Pilot: F/O. Jan Antoni Liblikmaa P/1942 PAF Age 27. Killed.
Navigator: Sgt. Jerzy Hara 704528 PAF Age 20. Killed
At 1304 hrs. Midair collision with Mosquito II Serial HJ703 piloted by Fl/Lt. Barnett of 36 Course, also of 60 OTU. HJ703 made a successful single engine landing back at RAF High Ercall but HJ650 crashed in the West Bromwich area with the loss of both crew members.
An ambulance was sent to recover the bodies of the two aircrew and removed them to the mortuary at RAF Halfpenny Green.
Above: Pilots Course 33 and 34, captioned as follows:
(Both images available at a higher resolution - please contact us)
F/O. Jan Antoni Liblikmaa. Worcester Cemetery (Astwood). Service Plot, Grave 34803. Born 11th July 1917. No further details - are you able to assist?
Sgt. Jerzy Hara. Worcester Cemetery (Astwood). Service Plot, Grave 34802. Born on the 11th September 1924. No further details - are you able to assist?
Researched by Steve Hunnisett for Aircrew Remembered - April 2019. Page dedicated to relatives of the crew. OTU photographs courtesy Steve Hunnisett. Grave photographs courtesy Julian Tansell.
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Memorial Details
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Further Reading
National Archives records confirm No. 60 Operational Training Unit was formed at High Ercall in May 1943, training night intruder crews on de Havilland Mosquitoes. The unit suffered multiple training losses across the UK, from Shropshire to Northern Ireland and Wales.
60 OTU formed at High Ercall May 1943Trained night intruder crews on Mosquitoes
RAF High Ercall served as a fighter station and later an OTU base during WW2. No. 60 OTU operated Mosquitoes from the airfield from 1943, with numerous training accidents recorded across mountainous terrain in Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Pennines.
Airfield served as fighter station before OTU roleTraining accidents occurred across wide geographical area
Sources
- aviationarchaeology.org.uk(website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Nearby Memorials
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