CREW: James Kirkwood, Edward George Hubbard, Robert Charles Stewart, George Alexander Wigley, Ronald George Cleeve, Leonard Madeley, John Killen
IN MEMORIAM
LANCASTER R-ROGER - JB219
Crashed at Gransden and caught fire, aircraft destroyed. Entire crew killed.
CREW
Pilot: P/O James Kirkwood, "Jim"
Flight Engineer: F/S Edward George Hubbard, "Ted"
Navigator: Sgt Robert Charles Stewart, "Bob"
Bomb Aimer: F/O George Alexander Wigley
W/Op: Sgt Ronald George Cleeve, possibly known as "Reg"
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt Leonard Madeley, "Len"
Rear Gunner: Sgt John Killen
LANCASTER R-ROGER - JB219
Crashed at Gransden and caught fire, aircraft destroyed. Entire crew killed.
CREW
Pilot: P/O James Kirkwood, "Jim"
Flight Engineer: F/S Edward George Hubbard, "Ted"
Navigator: Sgt Robert Charles Stewart, "Bob"
Bomb Aimer: F/O George Alexander Wigley
W/Op: Sgt Ronald George Cleeve, possibly known as "Reg"
Mid-Upper Gunner: Sgt Leonard Madeley, "Len"
Rear Gunner: Sgt John Killen
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
In a very moving ceremony, a memorial plaque was dedicated to this lost crew on September 15th 2007. Stanley Houlding, brother-in-law of Ted Hubbard, was the prime mover behind the erection of the plaque and he writes of the ceremony: "The weather was brilliant and we had about 50 turn up. Ann Savage brought several members of 97 Sqn. Association including Arthur Tindall DFC. The Rev. Bill Taylor conducted a splendid dedication service." Amongst those honouring the memory of the crew were Jim Kirkwood's son, also Jim, who had specially come from Canada with his wife Harriet, and Linda and John Dempsey (niece of George Wigley) with George Wigley's two brothers.
As we know, the aircraft crashed in deserted farmland and was not discovered until daylight. It had been attempting to land at Gransden Lodge, where conditions were no better than at Bourn on the foggy night of December 16/17 1943. The Lancaster went down just past midnight, apparently in a last desperate attempt to locate Gransden Lodge airfield but instead crashing into Hayley Wood close to the perimeter. All the crew were killed.
As we know, the aircraft crashed in deserted farmland and was not discovered until daylight. It had been attempting to land at Gransden Lodge, where conditions were no better than at Bourn on the foggy night of December 16/17 1943. The Lancaster went down just past midnight, apparently in a last desperate attempt to locate Gransden Lodge airfield but instead crashing into Hayley Wood close to the perimeter. All the crew were killed.
L to R: Harriet Kirkwood, Mr and Mrs Tindall, Rev Bill Taylor, Jim Kirkwood
In July 2007
Far right: Colin Stocker who put up the McLennan memorial stone at Graveley.
2nd from right: Sttan Hubbard who was chiefly responsible for the Kirkwood plaque.
3rd from right: Jennie Gray. Plaque on far left of picture. Other names to follow ...!
Far right: Colin Stocker who put up the McLennan memorial stone at Graveley.
2nd from right: Sttan Hubbard who was chiefly responsible for the Kirkwood plaque.
3rd from right: Jennie Gray. Plaque on far left of picture. Other names to follow ...!
Hayley Wood, looking up towards Great Gransden airfield, which the crew were trying to reach
Aircrew on Berlin op - December 16/17 1943