Short Stirling LK488 Tail Section

Built as a Short Stirling MK III, LK488 coded QQ-E was part of 1651 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) C Flight.

On the night of 18 October 1944 at 23.05hrs she took off from RAF Wrattling Common on a low level cross control exercise. During the exercise the weather rapidly deteriorated and visibility became extremely difficult.

At around 03.15hrs 19 October 1944 LK488 hit the summit of Mickle Fell in Couty Durham. Her tail gunner, W/O Alan G. Small was thrown clear during the impact. Although injured he managed to make his way to a local farm to get help.

Unfortunately the rest of LK488s crew perished. They were:

Pilot - F/Sgt Peter Dawbarn Young RNZAF

Navigator - F/Sgt Neil Conway Burgess RNZAF

Flight Engineer - Sgt Bertram George Davis RAF

Bomb Aimer - F/Sgt John Matthew Stack RNZAF

Wireless Operator - F/Sgt Rex Patrick Furey RNZAF

Air Gunner - F/Sgt George Child RNZAF

Lest we forget.

During August and September 1977 almost 5 tonnes of LK488s wreckage was recovered in the hopes of reconstruction but sadly this plan hasn't come to fruition.