Bomber Command Memorial Register

Low Bradley Mk.XI Memorial

Low Bradley, near Skipton, Pennines (North)

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

Low Bradley, near Skipton, Pennines (North), Pennines (North)

what3words: ///remission.switch.furnish

Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
Wellington Mk.XI
Serial Number
HZ251
Squadron
6 OTU
Date of Loss
1943-09-23

Crew

All killed

Memorial Details

Type
Stone cairn with tablet inset; wreckage nearby

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Bradley Parish Council

Local Contacts

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

Skipton Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Bradley Parish Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

Detailed account of Wellington HZ251's crash on 23 September 1943. The crew had completed a navigation exercise the previous day, landing at RAF Skipton-on-Swale due to poor weather. On departure for their home base at RAF Silloth, the aircraft took a southern route via the Irish Sea coast. Near Skipton the port wing spar failed, the wing detached, and the aircraft crashed near the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Bridge 183.

Port wing spar failure caused crashHome station was RAF Silloth, CumbriaLanded at Skipton-on-Swale due to weather on 22 SeptCrashed near Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Bridge 183All seven Polish crew killed

aircrashsites.co.ukRetrieved 2026-03-23

Documentation of the crash site and memorial near Skipton with photographs. HZ251 was built by Vickers Armstrong at Blackpool and taken on charge by 6 (C)OTU on 19 March 1943.

Built by Vickers Armstrong, BlackpoolTaken on charge 19 March 19436 (C)OTU unit

TracesOfWar.comRetrieved 2026-03-23

TracesOfWar entry for the Wellington Mk XI bomber memorial at Low Bradley, documenting its location and commemorative purpose for the Polish crew.

All crew were Polish Air ForceMemorial documented on international war heritage site

yorkshire-aircraft.co.ukRetrieved 2026-03-23

Yorkshire Aircraft website entry providing technical and historical details of Wellington HZ251 and the circumstances of the crash near Skipton.

Pilot was F/Sgt Franciszek Ciaston PAF

Sources

  • peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
aircrashsites.co.uk (retrieved 2026-03-23)
TracesOfWar.com (retrieved 2026-03-23)
yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

Halifax area Halifax Memorial
Halifax area, West YorkshireHalifax1944-02-07
24.7 km
away
Great Whernside Halifax Memorial
Great Whernside, above Kettlewell, Pennines (North)Halifax1943-11-23
25.6 km
away
Buckden Pike N.2848 Memorial
Buckden Pike, North YorkshireWellington Mk.IC1942-01-30
29.8 km
away
Colsterdale Halifax Memorial
Colsterdale, Slipstone Crags, North YorkshireHalifax1943-11-24
35.4 km
away
Tintwistle Knarr Lancaster Memorial
Tintwistle Knarr, Bleaklow, Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines)Avro Lancaster20/12/1948 (post-war training)
51.1 km
away

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

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