In the darkness of a December morning exactly 80 years ago, a Handley Page Halifax Bomber crashed into farmland close to the village of Newbridge in the West Wight – killing 7.
The aircraft, from 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, took off from RAF Beaulieu airfield at 06:30 on 20th December 1942. The aircraft was setting out on an anti-shipping mission in the Channel.
After passing over the West coast of the Island, and still climbing, the aircraft – flown by Flt Sgt. L. Snarr – developed catastrophic engine failure. Within a matter of a few seconds, the craft was out of control and plunged headlong into the ground at Eades Farm, Newbridge, just off the B3401.
The stricken bomber immediately burst into a ball of flame, killing all the mainly Canadian crew, made up of Flt Off. F. Stollery, R. Washer, M. Croft, N. Van Brunt, N. Fugere, G. Wagner and the pilot Flt Sgt. L. Snarr.
Rescuers were on the scene within minutes but nothing could be done as the heat and flame were intense and from the danger of the many unexploded bombs that had been thrown clear of the aircraft.
The names of the deceased are as follows:
WO II (Pilot) Lloyd Elsworth Snarr, R.C.A.F.
Pilot Officer (Bomb Aimer/Navigator) Robert Washer, R.A.F.
Flg. Off. (Observer) Ernest Stollery, R.C.A.F.
Sgt (Flt. Engineer) Morris William Croft, R.A.F.
Flt Sgt (W. Op. / Air Gunner) Norman Albert van Brunt, R.C.A.F.
Sgt (Air Gunner) Michael William Fugere, R.C.A.F.
Flt Sgt (Air Gunner) Gerald Edward Wagner, R.C.A.F.
6 of the men are buried at Boldre (St John’s) Churchyard in Hampshire. Robert Washer is buried at Cardiff (Cathay) Cemetery.
Is that the best that can be done for a memorial??
These guys were supremely brave, they flew poorly defended sitting ducks, they knew it.
And still they climbed aboard.
Bomber crews in my opinion were the heroes.
And all they have is a tatty looking cross in the undergrowth! Disgusting, they should have a proper memorial stone.
Start one, get a funding page going.
Why have the Royal British Legion not done nothing ?