RCAF graves near Molesworth from 26/3/42

[Hanglands]

Hi all,

I visited whats left of Site 7 at Molesworth today. Opposite this site is St.Swithuns church. In the churchyard there were four graves of an RCAF crew, a Pilot, two W/Op AGs, and an Observer.

Im assuming that these men were in someway related to Molesworth, but that may be wrong. Kimbolton, Glatton, etc are all not far away.

The men were:

Pilot RC Dobie http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2949827

W/Op AG DC Lindsey http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2949828

W/Op AG RJ O'Leary http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2949829

Air Observer NGW Boyce http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...sualty=2949826

Now, the date on the graves was 26th March 1942. As far as I can see this was after the RAF had moved out of Molesworth, and handed the airfield over to the Americans (February 42), although no aircraft were there until May/June that year. I believe in the intervening period the runways were extended/improved etc.

So, does anybody have any ideas how these four young men came to be burried on Molesworths doorstep?

Were there any Squadrons based temporarily at Molesworth after the RAF handover to the USAAF? Was the base used for training perhaps?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards,

S.

[Amrit1]

16 OTU Hampden P1221

T/O Upper Heyford for a night navigation sorties. Around 0045 the Hampden flew into the ground, at high speed, roughly 4 miles S of Polebrook airfield in Northamptonshire. All were laid to rest at Old Weston (St Swithun) Churchyard, Huntingdonshire. Lindsey was an American from Battle Creek Michigan

Chorley BCL Vol 7

And from this board:

"Their plane, a Handley-Page Hampden light bomber, crashed during a night-time training exercise, after actually hitting the spire of the church in the mist and knocking off the top ten feet. The piece landed in the churchyard, and has been left exactly as it landed that night in 1942, about twenty feet from where they lie buried."

http://forums.gunboards.com/archive/...p?t-10205.html

A

[Hanglands]

Many thanks for that Amrit1.

We did actually notice the spire sitting in the churchyard, I wish I'd taken a photo now.

Thanks again,

Regards,

S.

[Hanglands]

Luckily, a friend got the photo....



Old Spire in yellow circle :



As a side note, we learned from a farmer that Site 7 was to be demolished. The same friend who tokk these two photos has made a short movie about that site here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJBaUFODoS8


Regards,

S.

[Ivo de Jong]

At 04:50 in the nice you-tube movie you can see the church, and clearly see that the top of the steeple is newer than the rest.