Wollaston Manchester Memorial
Wollaston, Northamptonshire
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Location
Wollaston, Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire
what3words: ///wanting.fights.unwound
Narrative
Aircraft & Operation Details
Semper paratusCrew (7 members)
About the Crew
Aged 21, holder of the DFC. A contemporary of the legendary Guy Gibson at nearby 83 Squadron, Scampton. Killed by friendly fire.
Second pilot serving with the RAF.
Flight Sergeant and observer, holder of the DFM. One of two decorated airmen in the crew, both killed by friendly fire.
Flight Sergeant serving as wireless operator.
Flight Sergeant serving as wireless operator.
Sergeant serving as wireless operator.
Canadian air gunner serving with the RCAF. The only non-British crew member.
Memorial Details
Memorial Care
1.5-ton Derbyshire Gritstone block with plaque.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Local remembrance and memorial support
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
Official RAF news article about the unveiling of the Wollaston memorial on 22 June 2021, the 80th anniversary of the crash. The memorial commemorates the seven crew of Manchester L7314 shot down by a Beaufighter night fighter in a tragic friendly fire incident while returning from bombing Boulogne.
Memorial unveiled 22 June 2021 on 80th anniversaryAttended by relatives of five crew membersRepresentatives of today's 207 Squadron presentOfficial RAF acknowledgment of the friendly fire incident
Forces News coverage of the memorial unveiling at Wollaston, reporting on the tragic circumstances of the Manchester bomber being shot down by friendly forces and the 80-year campaign to commemorate the crew.
National military news coverage of the memorial dedication
Local newspaper article detailing the friendly fire circumstances. German aircraft were active over Lincolnshire and one followed a course overlapping L7314's track. No. 10 Group Fighter Command scrambled Beaufighters from 25 Squadron at RAF Wittering, and the ground controller mistakenly vectored them onto the Manchester.
Ground controller insisted target was hostile and ordered shoot-downBeaufighter pilot was 'in two minds' but fired cannon and machine gunsBeaufighter crew (P/O Smith and P/O Lusty) were court-martialledBlame also apportioned to the ground control stationOnly traces of five bodies recovered from crash
Background article about the Avro Manchester aircraft type and its role as the predecessor to the Lancaster. Only 200 Manchesters were built before being replaced by the four-engined Lancaster, making their crews particularly vulnerable.
Only 200 Manchesters built before type replaced by LancasterProvides context on the notoriously unreliable aircraft
Hatton Rotary Club page documenting their campaign to create the memorial for Manchester L7314 at Wollaston. The Rotary Club led the memorial project and coordinated with crew relatives and the RAF.
Hatton Rotary Club (Wellingborough) led the memorial campaignCoordinated with crew relatives and RAF Association
BAAA formal accident record for the Manchester I crash at Wollaston on 22 June 1941, recording seven fatalities. Catalogued under aircraft type Avro 679 Manchester I.
Formal international accident database recordSeven fatalities confirmed
Sources
- raf.mod.uk; Northants Telegraph(website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
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