Hello https://harringtonmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/DropZone-Volume-3-Issue-1-June-2005.pdf would anyone have info re a plane crash in Gold Street in Northampton town centre during the war. thank you
The second occurrence was a British plane that came down in Gold Street. My grandmother did not see it come down, but she heard about it and went to look. The plane, she said, was damaged but still recognisable as a plane, and they were about to take it away. Its wing tips had scored a mark down the buildings on both sides of the street. It was a miracle, she said, that it had missed All Saints’ Church. From: BBC - WW2 People's War - A bomb and a plane crash in Northampton You may be able to get information from here: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Mil_Air_C_Sites.pdf Regards Tom
Do you have a date? I can look it up in ATB's-The Blitz but 3 vols. would take forever without a date Andy
hello Andy Cant find the date and not much info at all Apparently it came down right in the middle of the street "Gold Street, along the length of which an RAF plane crash-landed during WW2.)" many thanks Clive
Hi it was 15th July 1941 The following link is to one of the men who observed it. BBC - WW2 People's War - Mulberry Harbour: My Part in the War
CTNana thank you Quote "I remember when the bomber crashed in Northampton town centre. I was at home, it was about 5.00am when we heard the drone of a plane, we could tell that it was in trouble, it seemed as though he was looking for somewhere to land. The pilot bailed out and he landed on the Kingsthorpe Recreation ground, unfortunately the parachute failed to open and he was killed. The plane crashed in Gold Street, opposite the Grand Hotel. I remember getting the first bus of the day at St James Depot to go to work, it could not go up Gold Street because it was blocked off due to the crashed plane, and it had to go up Horse Market instead." found some photos(could be linked to a bomb but same street) Northampton Library suggested it was a Stirling will do more digging thanks to all
So, thanks to the date and location, it was a Stirling: Stirling N6033 7 Squadron MG-? Operation Hannover 14th / 15th July 1941 N6033 was one of two 7 Sqdn Stirlings lost on this operation. See: N6022. Airborne 2300 14 Jul 41 from Oakington. Damaged by flak and on return to base the Stirling ran out of fuel. Abandoned and crashed 0415 into Gold St, Northampton. Tragically F/S Madgwick slipped out of his parachute harness and fell to his death. Later, RAF Oakington received a telephone call from the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire registering his great displeasure about the crash in his County. He is reputedly to have remarked ""I can't be having this!"". F/S B.K. Madgwick KIA Sgt C.H.Tourville Sgt W.H.Robinson Sgt M.Roach RCAF Sgt A.Chambers Sgt J.M.Donlan Sgt H.Macrae
CTNana, Very well found. Regards Tom Sadly I can't take the credit. I live in a small village outside Northampton and knew that someone on our village website would know. Strange coincidence, my Mum who was pregnant was evacuated from London to not far from here, and that was the day that she gave birth to my older brother.
On 15th July 1941 at approx 05.10 hrs a Stirling bomber crashed in to the centre of Northampton town after its engines stopped. All ejected from the aircraft before the crash but unfortunately the pilot's chute did not open and he lost his life. Does anyone know which squadron and base it belonged to and from which raid was it returning? It did have delayed action bombs on board but they did not detonate in the crash.
Covered in a previous thread: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/united-kingdom/23043-plane-crash-gold-street-northampton-ww2.html
14-15th July 1941 Stirling I N6033 NG- Op: Hanover 7sq Crew: F/S B K Madgwick (Killed) Sgt C H Tourville Sgt W H Robinson Sgt M Roach Sgt A Chambers Sgt J M Donlan Sgt H Macrae T/o 2300 Oakington. Damaged by flak and on return to base ran out of petrol. Abandoned by the crew and crashed 0415 into Gold Street, Northampton. Tragically, F/S Madgwick slipped out of his parachute and fell to his death. Later, Oakington received a telephone call from the Chief Constable of Northampton shire registering a protest about the crash in his county. He is reputedly to have remarked " I can't have this". (From W R Chorley, BCL of the second world war Vol 1941 page 91.) In Memory of Sergeant Pilot Bernard Keith Madgwick 741793, 7 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on 15 July 1941 No NOK Listed Remembered with Honour Langleybury (St. Paul) Churchyard Cheers Geoff
Covered in a previous thread: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/united-kingdom/23043-plane-crash-gold-street-northampton-ww2.html Nearly had it finished then received a phone call and just clicked enter when I sat down. Oh well, improves my typing skills.
Hi, I am most grateful for your help and info. I personally watched the plane come down but did not see the crew chutes come down as my view to the north was blocked. The time of 04.15 would be GMT as at that time we had BST so was 05.15(actually 05.11hrs) DBST came in later in the war. The Chief Constables remarks were most inappropriate as the crew and RAF had the populations utmost support.
From my photo collection MADGWICK, BERNARD KEITH Rank: Sergeant Trade: Pilot Service No: 741793 Date of Death: 15/07/1941 Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 7 Sqdn. Grave Reference West of Tower. Cemetery LANGLEYBURY (ST. PAUL) CHURCHYARD