Wellington Mk II W5356 ,Highfield farm Wythall , January, 9th,1942. 12 Squadron RAF Binbrook ,Lincolnshire

On a trip out around the southern midlands I took the time to visit a few sites the first is the crash site of Wellington Mk II bomber W5356 ,PH-T which impacted a field on Highfield farm Wythall , January, 9th,1942.
The Bomber of 12 Squadron RAF Binbrook ,Lincolnshire took off with a six man crew to take part in a raid on Cherbourg ,heading back over the UK the Bombers port engine seized due to a glycol leak caused most likely from battle damage , nursing the crippled wellington North the bomber past over RAF Wythall the home of No 6 barrage balloon unit with no height left the pilot attempted a forced landing, passing under power lines the aircraft sadly struck a large oak tree which slewed the plane into the field where it burst into flames on impact .

Two crewmen survived the crash and with the help of a nearby local managed to get their crew mates out of the plane tragically 3 were beyond help the fourth passed away due to injuries 2 days later .

After gaining permission from the land owner and much to the local horses amusement I took off across the paddocks in about 8 inches of mud, nearing the hedge a small fenced area gave away the memorials position looking back beyond the memorial there stood the power lines the bomber passed under still running along the same line, a short way into the field a change in the ground and grass growth shows where the plane burned out .
Crew lost =
Sgt D.Butterworth
Sgt B.Franklin
Sgt C,Morrey
P/o W,H [Bunny ] Burnham.RNZAF [passed away 2 days later ]
Crew survived but injured =
Sgt B,Cable
P/O B,Breck
Both Canadian