Bomber Command Memorial Register

Tattershall (1) Lancaster Memorial

Tattershall (1), Lincolnshire

Complete 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

5d239793adb5a LI Tattershall 1 547x410
5d239793adb5a LI Tattershall 1 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d2397952da76 LI Tattershall 2 547x410
5d2397952da76 LI Tattershall 2 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
5d23979679970 LI Tattershall 3 547x410
5d23979679970 LI Tattershall 3 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
68d68c91a57cb IMG 5491 547x410
68d68c91a57cb IMG 5491 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
68d68c92989be IMG 5492 547x410
68d68c92989be IMG 5492 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online
68d68c93717df IMG 5493 547x410
68d68c93717df IMG 5493 547x410, Credit: Tony Hibberd / War Memorials Online

Location

Tattershall (1), Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire

what3words: ///wanderers.expropriate.spiders

Narrative

Lancaster W4175 (OF-U) had survived the long and dangerous round trip to Berlin -- one of the most heavily defended targets in Germany. The crew must have felt relief as they crossed the English coast and made for their home airfield. But tragedy struck at the last moment. While circling RAF Woodhall Spa preparing to land at 04:45 on 30 March 1943, the aircraft crashed onto the Tattershall and Coningsby Gas Works, killing all seven crew instantly. The cruel irony of surviving a Berlin raid only to die within sight of home was a fate that befell more Bomber Command crews than the popular narrative acknowledges. Many losses occurred during landing, in circuit, or on approach -- exhausted crews flying damaged aircraft in poor visibility after hours of operational stress.

Aircraft & Operation Details

97 Sqdn. badgeAchieve your aim
Aircraft Type
Lancaster
Serial Number
W4175
Squadron
97 Sqdn.
Station
Woodhall Spa
Date of Loss
1943-03-30
Operation Type
Operational
Target
Returning from bombing raid on Berlin
Cause of Loss
Crashed while circling the airfield on return from Berlin at 04:45 hours

Crew (7 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
Fg OffD.W. FrancisPilot—BritishKilled
Coningsby CemeteryCWGC
Fg OffPeter Hilary NortonNavigator—BritishKilled
Coningsby CemeteryCWGC
SgtJames Alexander Peel
1042200
Flight Engineer—BritishKilled
Knockbreda Cemetery, Northern IrelandCWGC
SgtWilliam StandringWireless Operator—BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtRalph FrankAir Gunner—BritishKilled
Nottingham (Wilford Hill) Jewish CemeteryCWGC
Fl/SgtFrederick Richard BirtwistleAir Gunner—BritishKilled
—CWGC
SgtWilliam Henry WhitingBomb Aimer—BritishKilled
—CWGC

About the Crew

Fg Off D.W. FrancisPilot

Pilot of Lancaster OF-U, 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron. Had successfully completed the dangerous round trip to Berlin before the fatal crash on approach.

Fg Off Peter Hilary NortonNavigator

Navigator serving with 97 Squadron. Buried alongside his pilot at Coningsby Cemetery.

Sgt James Alexander PeelFlight Engineer

Flight engineer serving with the RAFVR. Originally from Northern Ireland.

Sgt William StandringWireless Operator

Wireless operator serving with 97 Squadron.

Sgt Ralph FrankAir Gunner

Air gunner born 1917. Buried in the Jewish Cemetery at Wilford Hill, Nottingham.

Fl/Sgt Frederick Richard BirtwistleAir Gunner

Air gunner serving with 97 Squadron.

Sgt William Henry WhitingBomb Aimer

Bomb aimer serving with 97 Squadron. The seventh crew member, sometimes omitted from partial records.

Memorial Details

Type
Bridge memorial

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Tattershall Parish Council

Local Contacts

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

Coningsby, Tattershall & District Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Tattershall Parish Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

Lincolnshire Heritage ExplorerRetrieved 2026-03-23

Heritage record for the crash site of Lancaster W4175 at the Tattershall and Coningsby Gas Works. Documents the aircraft crashing while circling RAF Woodhall Spa after returning from a Berlin raid on 30 March 1943.

Monument reference MLI125799. The heritage record notes the crash occurred on the gas works site. All seven crew killed.

Aviation Safety NetworkRetrieved 2026-03-23

Accident database entry for Avro Lancaster Mk I W4175 of 97 Squadron, recording the crash on 30 March 1943 at Tattershall while returning from operations.

Aircraft designated OF-U. Based at RAF Woodhall Spa. Crashed on the gas works during circuit.

War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23

Registry entry for the memorial plaque on Butt's Bridge at Coningsby, commemorating the crews of both Lancaster W4175 (OF-U) and Lancaster PB422 (OF-P) of 97 Squadron.

Combined memorial on Butt's Bridge commemorates crews of two separate 97 Squadron crashes at Tattershall. Erected by the Royal British Legion Coningsby, Tattershall and District Branch.

Sources

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Safety Network (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-23

Nearby Memorials

Tattershall (2) Lancaster Memorial
Tattershall (2), LincolnshireLancaster1945-07-13
2.2 km
away
Timberlands Fen Lancaster Memorial
Timberlands Fen, LincolnshireLancaster1944-02-15
5.8 km
away
South Kyme Halifax Memorial
South Kyme, LincolnshireHalifax1943-11-04
9.1 km
away
Revesby Lancaster Memorial
Revesby, LincolnshireLancaster1944-05-23
9.5 km
away
Blankney (mid-air collision) Lancaster Memorial
Blankney (mid-air collision), LincolnshireLancaster1945-03-11
14.3 km
away

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