Laughterton (1) Stirling Memorial

Local remembrance and memorial support

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

War Memorials Online registers the Laughterton Trentside Memorial, a stone cairn surmounted by a propeller blade and reduction gear with plaques on opposing sides. One side commemorates Stirling EH940 from 1661 HCU (pilot's first solo flight) which suffered an in-flight engine fire at 1,800 feet and crashed at Park Farm, Kettlethorpe on 21 June 1944. Five crew were killed and three injured.

Memorial reference 264797Stone cairn with propeller bladePilot's first solo flightIn-flight engine fire at 1,800 feetCrashed at Park Farm, Kettlethorpe

IWM registers the memorial as commemorating both Shorts Stirling EH940 and Avro Lancaster LM292. The memorial plaques on opposing sides were unveiled on 16 July 1994, erected on the village green beside the A1133.

IWM memorial reference 20313Dual memorial covering two crashesUnveiled 16 July 1994 on village green

Traces of War documents the broader memorial context for 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Winthorpe, which suffered numerous training losses with the notoriously difficult Short Stirling bomber during the conversion training programme.

1661 HCU training context documentedStirling bomber conversion training losses