Monument record MLI89212 - Avro Lancaster Aircraft Crash Site, Swayfield
Summary
Crash site of an Avro Lancaster bomber aircraft, to the north-west of Swayfield. The aircraft was designated PB911, and crashed during the Second World War.
Type and Period (3)
- AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE (Second World War - 1945 AD to 1945 AD)
- LANCASTER (Second World War - 1945 AD to 1945 AD)
- ARTEFACT SCATTER (Second World War - 1945 AD to 1945 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
An Avro Lancaster Mk I bomber aircraft crashed to the north-west of Swayfield on the 30th of March 1945. The aircraft was designated PB911 of 635 (Pathfinder) Squadron, and was based at RAF Downham Market (Norfolk). It was taking part in a training exercise, to practise usage of the Fishpond warning system, but crashed at 11:10 am, killing all seven crew members. The official cause of the crash was loss of control of the aircraft due to severe icing. All of the crew's bodies were removed shortly after the crash. The crash site was confirmed in 2015, after a metal detecting survey revealed an area of magnetic anomalies in this location. {1}{2}
A subsequent excavation of the crash site was conducted in August 2006. Many small, fragmentary and corroded parts of the aircraft were found, although various recognisable fragments were also located, including a propeller blade, the upper gun turret and remains of items from the instrument panel. No human remains were discovered, although items associated with the crew were recovered, including a 1936 penny, parts of a parachute, a fragment of a lifejacket and remains of several flight boots. Remains of the impact crater were also revealed. The excavation established that the aircraft had hit the ground at an angle of 45 degrees, left wing first, and that the engines were still working at this point. The cause of the crash still appeared to be icing. There also appears to have been a severe fire following the crash. {3}
Sources/Archives (3)
- <1> SLI16157 Unpublished Document: Colin Lee. 2006. Pre-Excavation Report for Avro Lancaster PB911 Crash Site. -.
- <2> SLI15183 Website: Bomber County Aviation Resource. 2008->. Bomber County Aviation Resource. http://www.bcar.org.uk/index. 1945 Crash Log.
- <3> SLI10957 Report: Defence Estates. 2006. Revealing the Pathfinder: Excavation of Avro Lancaster PB911, Swayfield. -.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 982 231 (100m by 100m) Estimated from sources |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | SWAYFIELD, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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