Creswell memorial stone to mark 1944 Canadian crash


A memorial stone to mark the loss of five Canadian aircrew whose plane crashed in 1944 has been unveiled near the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border.

On 4 August 1944, the Wellington bomber took off with its crew on a training flight from RAF Gamston near Retford but crash-landed near Creswell.

Creswell resident Joseph Plant left money for the memorial in his will.

The Canadian High Commissioner attended and a Lancaster bomber was due to fly past to conclude the ceremony.

Due to bad weather conditions, the fly-past had to be cancelled.

Gerald Plant, Joseph Plant's brother, said: "We have been working hard to fulfil the wishes of my late brother.

"All of the Canadian relatives of the airmen have been contacted and at least 20 are due to travel to Britain for the event."

Earlier in the week, the relatives also visited the graves of the airmen at Harrogate Cemetery and Gamston airfield from where the crew flew.

Col Paul Keddy, air force advisor to the UK at the High Commission of Canada, said: "The high commission is extremely grateful for the recognition this event will provide for our brave Canadian airmen."