World War 2 Allied Bomber crash near Beaconsfield.

[TypeR]

My daughter is studying WW2 at School, and she's fascinated that "the War" came anywhere near where we live on the outskirts of Beaconsfield. She's convinced that the countryside was unscathed, because all her books concentrate on the Blitz..
I've taken her to see the abandoned Royal Observation Corps lookout point nearby, we've discovered that there was an SOE training camp in Chalfont St. Giles, and we've wandered all over Wilton Park in Beaconsfield, where POW's including Rudolf Hess were held.
Apparently there were attempts to de-Nazify the enemy there......
(and there's a Nuclear bunker there too!!)
However I remember and old boy telling me a tale about an Allied bomber that crashed with a full load of bombs on board, and nearly all the windows in the town were blown in as a result of the explosion.
Apparently the plane came down near Holtspur and there's a memorial to the crew at the site.
Could one of the resident experts point me in the right direction for details, as I'd like Morgan to see the site herself.
Thanks.

[Eric Mc]

There is a book around called "Bomber Command Losses" which might be a starting point.

Of course, it may have been an American bomber.

[onyx39]

Not got time to read throught this all at work, does it help?

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/130641/WW2_bombs_o...

[Sid's Dad]

The story you describe sounds very like the bomber that came down near Burchetts Green, which is just south west of Maidenhead. Bomber full of bombs, woods, memorial. Admittedly bombers came down all over the place, but I've never heard of one near Holtspur...

[TypeR]

Sid's Dad said:

The story you describe sounds very like the bomber that came down near Burchetts Green, which is just south west of Maidenhead. Bomber full of bombs, woods, memorial. Admittedly bombers came down all over the place, but I've never heard of one near Holtspur...

Just down the road from the Brewery I work at. I can pop over there one lunchtime.
However, I'm sure the plane I heard about crashed near Beaconsfield.
Thanks for the replies so far.

[951TSE]

This site: http://www.amersham.org.uk/ww2/ (about halfway down the page) has a bit about a Halifax, accidentally shot down near Little Chalfont, but that was returning from a raid so probably no bombs on board. There's also some other sites you may be interested in if you read the rest of the page.

[TypeR]

Sid's Dad said:

The story you describe sounds very like the bomber that came down near Burchetts Green, which is just south west of Maidenhead. Bomber full of bombs, woods, memorial. Admittedly bombers came down all over the place, but I've never heard of one near Holtspur...

Just down the road from the Brewery I work at. I can pop over there one lunchtime.
However, I'm sure the plane I heard about crashed near Beaconsfield.
Thanks for the replies so far.

[essayer]

I am pretty sure a USAF bomber came down near the Royal Standard pub, will see if I can find a link referencing it

Edit. Here you go: apparently a B -17 named Tomahawk Warrior crash landed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, High Wycombe

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/1462-lieutenant-el...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories...

No idea if there's a plaque there or not

Edited by essayer on Thursday 20th February 16:43

[Eric Mc]

essayer said:

I am pretty sure a USAF bomber came down near the Royal Standard pub, will see if I can find a link referencing it

Edit. Here you go: apparently a B -17 named Tomahawk Warrior crash landed near Lude Farm, Loudwater, High Wycombe

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/1462-lieutenant-el...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories...

No idea if there's a plaque there or not

Edited by essayer on Thursday 20th February 16:43

Wouldn't have been a USAF bomber unless it was after 1947.

The USAF only came into being in 1947. During WW2 it was the USAAF - the extra A being for "Army".

[Antcoy]

there is a crashed wellington on the edge of Beaconsfield (north and slightly east side) by the woods near sandleswood end. Bullets can be found at the site and small bits of corroded aluminium. Bullets date stamped 1945 KG. Rumour that it was a training flight as wellingtons not used that date in action.

[RichB]

TypeR said:

Sid's Dad said:

The story you describe sounds very like the bomber that came down near Burchetts Green, which is just south west of Maidenhead. Bomber full of bombs, woods, memorial. Admittedly bombers came down all over the place, but I've never heard of one near Holtspur...

Just down the road from the Brewery I work at. I can pop over there one lunchtime.
However, I'm sure the plane I heard about crashed near Beaconsfield.
Thanks for the replies so far.

What brewery near Burchetts Green is that then?

[Nobby Diesel]

There is a small memorial in the woods near Burchetts Green roundabout, which I recall is for a Canadian aircraft and crew that crashed.
If you walk through the woods, on the inside of the curve of the A404, behind the cottages at the Burchetts Green roundabout, you'll come across it.

I seem to remember that they were returning from a bombing run and didn't quite make landing.
RIP.