Stirling PW-422 N°570 Sqdn

[Alain57]

Hi ,
It seems that Stirling PW-422 from No 570 Sqdn crasht or crashlanded near Sint-Stevens-Woluwe in Belgium on november 14th 1945. Who was the crew and what happened with them ?

[Soren Flensted]

Hi Alain
According to "The price of peace" by Colin Cummings this is what happened: The aircraft was dropping newspapers following a flight from the UK. It descended to low level in poor visibility and whilst running up to drop the bundles, it struck a telegraph pole and crashed into a house where it was destroyed by fire. Three Belgian civilians were killed in the house.The crew were: Pilot W/O Tom Hall, F/E F/S Ronald George James Fair, Wop F/S Frederick Thomas Martin, A/B F/S Reginald Clifford Meavers, Nav W/O William Robert Walker.

[Alain57]

Thanks Soren

Alain

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Alain and Soren,

Is anything known about the names of the civilians?

Regards,

Bart

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi !

The plane crashed in the Esstraat and the 3 killed civilians were 3 sisters, named Van Graefschepen (rather difficult to read on the information I received) :
Marie Josephine Charlotte born 11/02/1886
Emilie Victorine Jeanne born 1/09/1889
Marguerite Alphonsine Eugenie born 14/02/1891

Best regards

Luc

[Alain57]

Thanks Luc

Alain

[Larry]

14th November 1945 is correct - but it seems a little late in 1945 to be doing air drops! Who to I wonder. Were there still British Army units in Belgium at this time?

[Alain57]

Hi Larry ,

I think so , what later would be the Belgian air Force , took over the airfields like Evere, Florennes , St-Trond etc over in 1946.

Alain