Bomber Command Memorial Register

Wellington HE324 Crash Site X Memorial

Wellington HE324 Crash Site, IWM-Registered Bomber Crash Memorials (Peak/Pennines)

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.

Photographs

5a8ae1b0c2c61 Horwood Wellington Crash 547x410
5a8ae1b0c2c61 Horwood Wellington Crash 547x410, Credit: https://www.horwooddevon.co.uk/air-crash-memorial/ / War Memorials Online
6884a62c31088 PXL 20250725 104527394 547x410
6884a62c31088 PXL 20250725 104527394 547x410, Credit: https://www.horwooddevon.co.uk/air-crash-memorial/ / War Memorials Online

Location

Wellington HE324 Crash Site, IWM-Registered Bomber Crash Memorials (Peak/Pennines), IWM-Registered Bomber Crash Memorials (Peak/Pennines)

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Narrative

This is one of the earliest crashes in the area and involves Polish airmen — men who had escaped occupied Poland to continue fighting from Britain. 301 Squadron was a Polish bomber squadron operating Wellingtons from Swinderby/Winthorpe. Returning from a night bombing raid on Bremen, the Wellington came down in a barley field at Winkburn. The heroism of the Broadberry family, who risked their lives to pull crew from burning wreckage, adds a powerful civilian dimension to this story.

Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
Wellington X
Serial Number
HE324
Squadron
RAF Silverstone
Date of Loss
1943-09-18
Operation Type
Operational
Target
Returning from bombing raid on Bremen
Cause of Loss
Not confirmed — crash-landed in barley field

Crew (6 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
F/SgtNorman 'Norm' DunnCrew25Australian (RAAF)KilledHeanton Punchardon, North Devon
SgtJohnnie DonnachieCrew21British (RAFVR)KilledWishaw, Scotland
P/OHiram FarrerCrew26Canadian (RCAF)KilledHeanton Punchardon, North Devon
SgtRaymond DollingCrew21British (RAFVR)KilledLlanelli, Wales
SgtJames HallamCrew18British (RAFVR)KilledUnknown
SgtHenry 'Arthur' NewnhamCrew21Australian (RAAF)KilledUnknown

Memorial Details

Type
Memorial marker

Local Contacts

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

Bakewell & District Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Further Reading

War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23

War Memorials Online entry for the Wellington X HE324 crash site memorial. The memorial is a vertical square tablet with RAF badge and black lettering, dedicated in September 2013 after research to identify and notify surviving relatives of the six crew members.

Memorial dedicated September 2013Vertical square tablet with RAF badgeCrash occurred in a field near Horwood, North DevonAircraft was on a training exercise from RAF Silverstone

Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23

IWM War Memorials Register entry for the Wellington HE324 crash memorial. Located half a mile east of Horwood church in North Devon, the stone of remembrance commemorates six airmen who died when the Wellington crashed in flames on 18 September 1943.

IWM reference number 74678Located near Horwood church, North Devon, EX39 4PEAircraft was seen on fire over Lovacott and East Barton before crashing

Aviation Safety NetworkRetrieved 2026-03-23

Aviation Safety Network database entry for the Wellington HE324 accident on 18 September 1943. Records the aircraft type, date, and circumstances of the fatal training flight crash.

Formal accident database recordSix crew from multiple Commonwealth nations killedCrew included RAAF, RCAF, and RAFVR personnel

Peak District Air Accident Research catalogues military aircraft crash sites across the Pennines region. While HE324 is listed among their records, the actual crash location was in North Devon rather than the Peak District.

Cross-referenced in Pennines crash site database

Sources

  • warmemorialsonline.org.uk (memorial/256651)(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Safety Network (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-22

Nearby Memorials

Near Sheldon village Wellington Memorial
Near Sheldon village, Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines)Wellington1942-07-12
6.0 km
away
Rushup Edge Mk.I Memorial
Rushup Edge, Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines)Hampden Mk.IWW2 (night cross-country navigation exercise)
23.1 km
away
Marchington Mk.X Memorial
Marchington, StaffordshireWellington Mk.X1944-06-13
27.2 km
away
(Location via IWM) Lancaster Memorial
(Location via IWM), IWM-Registered Bomber Crash Memorials (Peak/Pennines)Lancaster1943-09-28
28.9 km
away
Kinder Scout (1) Wellington Memorial
Kinder Scout (1), Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines)Wellington Mk.IC1941-07-31
29.7 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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Can You Help Complete This Record?

This record for Wellington HE324 Crash Site X Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.

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