Additional Information: J E Fivash died when his Wellington LP873 of 10 OTU (based at Stanton Harcourt) crashed at Pillerton Hersey while on a night nav-ex, possibly after loss of control in cloud.F/O R L Walters, F/Sgt J E Fivash, F/O M E Tardif, Sgt J Grant and Sgt B W Kelly were all killed.
Further details from the Midland Aircraft Recovery Group report, courtesy of Mark Evans:The aircraft crashed at 00.35 hours on 11th July 1945, at Park Slade Farm, Pillerton Hersey, Warwickshire. The area is one of low rolling hills on the northern edge of the Cotswolds.The aircraft accident card gives the following details. Duty cross country flight; aircraft was airborne for 2 hours 30 minutes. At 00.35 hours on 11th July 1945, the aircraft struck the ground in a high-speed vertical dive and burnt out. The aircraft was out of control prior to the crash and it was considered that the pilot lost control while flying on instruments in cloud. The AOC-in-C considered that the flight should not have been authorised in view of the weather conditions. There were no survivors from the crew of five.
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