Mission: Training
Date: 26th January 1943
Unit: No. 15 OTU (Operational Training Unit)
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: R1491
Coded: EU-
Location: Bwlch Y Rhiw farmhouse, on the B4580 Oswestry road two miles from Llansilin, Shropshire.
Pilot: Sgt Geoffrey George Ottley 1387817 R.A.F.V.R. (Age 20) (Missing
Nav: Sgt Leonard Charles Muston 1385587 R.A.F.V.R. (Age 28) (Killed)
Air/Bmr: Sgt John Simpson Todd 1385587 R.A.F.V.R. (Age 22) (Killed)
Wop/Air/Gnr: Sgt Cadfan Edwards 1313119 R.A.F.V.R. (Age 24) (Missing)
Air/Gnr: Sgt Brace Harry Parker 1300008 R.A.F.V.R. (Age 26) (Missing)
Civilians: Edwin Williams (Age 46) and his wife Annie Jane Williams (Age47) (Both killed)
Main image - Ground crew working on a Vickers Wellington Ic
REASON FOR LOSS:
Wellington Ic R1491 took-off at 2146 hrs from RAF Harwell for a night navigation exercise. At about 0140 hrs on the 26th, Royal Observer Corps lookouts saw the Wellington on fire and it is believed that it may have struck the 1,100ft ridge of Craig-y-rhiw or the tiny hill-fort of Coed-y-Gaer, fracturing fuel lines or tanks before being catapulted back in the air.
At 0146 hrs the Wellington crashed into the side of Bwlch Y Rhiw farmhouse, on the B4580 Oswestry road two miles from the village of Llansilin, Shropshire (precise location is 52° 18’ N 3°59’ W). All five crew died. The occupants of the house, Edwin Williams and his wife Annie Jane were also killed, but their son Dan and daughter Nancy survived, as did a Land Girl who was staying at the house. Nancy and the Land Girl were trapped by the fire which followed the collision; they were very bravely rescued by Dan who suffered serious injuries during the rescue.
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Burial Detail:
Sergeant Leonard Charles Muston Service No 1390823 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Death 26 Jan 1943 Age 28 years old
Burial Oswestry Cemetery, Shropshire, England Sec. T. Grave 212.
Son of Herbert and Emma Rose Muston, of Fulham, London.
Sergeant John Simpson Todd Service No: 1385587 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Death 26 Jan 1943 Age 22 years old
Burial Oswestry Cemetery, Shropshire, England Sec. T. Grave 120.
Son of David Alexander and Hilda Todd, of Tattenham Corner, Epsom, Surrey.
Sergeant Geoffrey George Ottley Service No: 1387817 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Death 26 Jan 1943 Age 20 years old
Runnymede Memorial Englefield Green, Surrey, England Panel 160.
Son of Alfred John and Mary Emily Ottley, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
Sergeant Cadfan Edwards Service No: 1313119 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 26 January 1943 Age 24 years old
Commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 148.
Son of David and Elizabeth Edwards, of Ystrad, Rhondda, Glamorgan.
Sergeant BRACE HARRY PARKER Service No: 1300008 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Died 26 January 1943 Age 26 years old
Commemorated at RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Panel 161.
Son of Charles Edward and Ada Martha Parker, of Gravesend, Kent.
Remembrance page researched and compiled by David King and Alexander D King. Credits: Special thanks to Brian Hibbert for bringing this tragedy to our attention and for sharing photos and information relating to Sergeant Leonard Charles Muston
