Avro Lancaster LM619
0.3 miles away
Lincolnshire
Westborough Lancaster Memorial
Westborough, Lincolnshire
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
It is maintained by Westborough and Dry Doddington Parish Council.
Type
Stone memorial
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Westborough, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire
what3words: ///legroom.hurricane.shaky
What Happened
Flying Officer Ivan Lindsay Thompson was at the controls of Lancaster LM619 on a night bombing practice flight from Bottesford when the aircraft came down near Westborough, Lincolnshire on 15 January 1945. The crew were assigned to 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit, undergoing the advanced training required before operational service. Six of those aboard were killed in the crash. The source data does not confirm the cause of the accident or the fate of the remaining crew members. A memorial at Westborough today marks the site where LM619 fell, preserving the names of those who did not survive.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
RAF Bottesford opening(1941)
Under the control of No. 5 Group, RAF Bottesford opened as a new bomber airfield with concrete surfaces.
Bizarre accident at RAF Bottesford(Not specified in the text)
An accident occurred that resulted in the death of five airmen.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Crew (6 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Westborough and Dry Doddington Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Grantham Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Westborough and Dry Doddington Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Online entry for the memorial plaque to the crew of 1668 HCU Lancaster LM619 at Westborough. The plaque commemorates the six crew members killed when the Lancaster crashed on 15 January 1945 during night bombing practice from RAF Bottesford.
What you'll find: The poignant Memorial: Westborough Lancaster Memorial honoring fallen crew members.
Memorial plaque near All Saints Church, WestboroughLast fatal aircraft accident at Bottesford during WWII
International Bomber Command Centre (Facebook)Retrieved 2026-03-23
International Bomber Command Centre post detailing the circumstances of the Lancaster LM619 crash at Westborough, Lincolnshire on 15 January 1945. Confirms the aircraft was from 1668 Heavy Conversion Unit and was on a training exercise.
What you'll find: The details of the tragic Lancaster LM619 crash at Westborough, Lincolnshire in this International Bomber Command Centre post.
IBCC documentation of the incidentConfirms 1668 HCU training flight details
Bottesford Living HistoryRetrieved 2026-03-23
Chapter 17 of 'On the Wings of the Morning' by Vincent Holyoak, published by the Bottesford Living History project, covers the final wartime accidents at RAF Bottesford including the LM619 crash. Provides broader context of the Heavy Conversion Unit's operations.
What you'll find: Explore WWII air accident history in 'On the Wings of the Morning' chapter 17.
Part of comprehensive Bottesford wartime historyLM619 was the last fatal crash at the station
Aviation TrailsRetrieved 2026-03-23
Aviation Trails feature on RAF Bottesford covers multiple accidents at the station including the LM619 crash. Provides context about the Heavy Conversion Unit training operations that took place at Bottesford in the final years of the war.
What you'll find: Explore detailed accounts of aviation incidents and historical operations at Westborough Lancaster Memorial.
Contextualises LM619 within broader Bottesford accident history
Nearby Memorials
Sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
International Bomber Command Centre (Facebook) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Bottesford Living History (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Trails (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21
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