World War Two aircraft crashes near Gun Hill
IN RECENT weeks Looking Back readers have got back with their memories of the house Gun Hill at Whitwick, and one reader who has researched the area has been in touch about two aeroplanes that crashed near the house during World War Two
He has also investigated a crash landing that he says is still a bit of a mystery.
Jimmy Francis has published a book called “Thringstone and Gracedieu News 1939-1945” and it features the stories of a plane that crashed into Blackbrook Reservoir and another that crashed into a field at Gun Hill during a training exercise.
Jimmy told Looking Back that the first plane that crashed was a De Haviland Tiger Moth T7605 7EFTS on July 2, 1942.
He said: “The aircraft belonging to 7 Elementary Flying Training School at Desford, was apparently involved in some unauthorised low flying over Blackbrook reservoir near Gracedieu.
According to eye witnesses, the aircraft’s undercarriage struck the water, during a fly past.
The pilot was a Canadian, flight Sergeant J.E Ratigan aged 25 and was seen to escape the sinking aircraft, but sadly drowned attempting to swim ashore.”
Jimmy said that the second aircraft to crash land was a Vickers Wellington Mc IC N2809 28 O.T.U and crashed on February 15, 1943.
He said: “The aircraft belonging to Number 28 Operational Training Unit had taken off at 11.30 from Castle Donington on a cross-country navigation exercise.
At some point the aircraft flew through a snow storm, encountering severe icing. The aircraft lost height and stalled while trying to pull up over a pinnacle of rock, crashing at 16.30 on Gun Hill, near Whitwick. “Sadly all five crew were killed.” Jimmy said that the crew were pilot Sergeant J.Andrew, bomber Sergeant E.Brook, wireless operator and air gunner Sergeant A.D Scott, navigator. Sergeant F.W. Gurney and air gunner Sergeant D.Marsden.
Jimmy said that the third crash landing near Gun Hill is still somewhat of a mystery, and he believes that a P-47 Thunderbolt plane that was shipped from the US, (Long Island, New York) at a cost of $76,562 is believed to have crashed near Blackbrook Reservoir on October 14, 1944.
Jimmy said: “There is some conflict if this aircraft did actually crash at Fenny Spring near to Blackbrook reservoir, Shepshed.
It seems that the damage was minimal and the pilot survived.”