Desborough memorial to airmen killed in second world war unveiled by surviving families

A memorial marking the spot of an air crash in Desborough that cut short the lives of three crew mates has been unveiled by their families.

The stone and accompanying plaque was erected after one of the airmen’s family from Australia got in touch with local historians in Desborough.

Pilot officer Reg Byrne, 23, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve (RAFVR) members Sgt Bill Barnett, 32, and Sgt Eddie Brisbourne,19, all died when their Wellington Bomber failed on September 5 in 1944.

The plane with six crew aboard crashed into a paddock on Feakin’s Farm in Harrington Road, now a housing estate off Green Lane.

Tony Miller, Reg Byrne’s nephew, who helped unveil the memorial, said: “My mum Eileen and he were very close. His death shattered his family. I made a promise to my old mum that I would get the memorial. I’m deeply, deeply grateful to everyone in Desborough.

"I’m surprised – I had a lump in my throat. It was very emotional.”

Using a grant from a house builder, Desborough Civic Society members, Steve Richards and Mike Maguire, successfully negotiated for an area of a new housing estate to be used for remembrance.

Led by Rev Canon Neil Clarke, chaplain to Desborough Royal British Legion, more than 50 people joined in the service including a reading of The Kohima Epitaph, a two-minutes’ silence and the laying of wreaths.

Squadron Leader Luke Ridgway of the RAAF, who placed a poppy wreath, said: “I’m really humbled to attend on behalf of the Australian Government and the RAAF. It was a beautiful ceremony. I wasn’t expecting so many people – it’s the true British spirit.”

85-year-old Jean Jones, Sgt Eddie Brisbourne’s sister was proud of her “lovely” brother and placed a wreath at the newly-unveiled memorial bearing his name.

She said: “I was very proud of him. It’s wonderful. I remember the last time I saw him, he turned around and smiled and held up his hand. He was lovely in his own way. I can remember the day he died. I came home from school and tears were streaming down from mum’s eyes.”

Representing Welshman Sgt Bill Barnett was his second cousin Bill Everatt, who works as a civilian for the RAF. His Godmother ‘auntie’ Bet was Bill Barnett’s wife.

He said: “Auntie Bet would have been so incredibly proud. It’s been very emotional and very moving.”

The memorial made of York Stone has an engraved granite plaque dedicated to the three men as well as the other airmen who lost their lives while stationed at RAF Desborough, bomber command’s 84 Operational Training Unit.

Steve Richards, event co-organiser said: “It’s a fitting memorial to those who died. I’m glad it went so well.”

Also attending the ceremony were two eyewitnesses to the crash – both Desborough schoolboys at the time.

Derek Yeoman now 91, lived in Loatland Street and was woken by his dad when the plane crashed.

He said: “There was one field between them and us when it crashed. My father heard a plane in distress. He said ‘come on boy’ – I remember the bullets exploded all night.”

Also early to the scene was Arnold Feakin, then 13, whose family farm became the crash site.

He said: “I remember it coming down I was woken up. I think about those young men every time I come past. We made crosses for them out of the perspex from the plane. I’m pleased that there is a memorial. It brings memories back.”

Reg Byrne’s nephew Tony said: "He thought he was indestructible. No-one expected him to not come home. War is such a bloody waste of young people. This (memorial) isn’t a glorification of war, it’s a statement about the horror. I find it terribly sad. It’s a story that is repeated in every corner of the globe.”

The Story of Wellington X HF570

In 1944, in the early hours of September 5, a Wellington Bomber crewed by six young men returning to their training base at RAF Desborough broke the silence of the night, crashing to Earth.

They had taken off from RAF Desborough at 21:10 hrs for a night navigation training flight. At the end of the night exercise, at approximately 02:05 hrs, the crew had received permission to reduce height from 3,00ft to 1,000ft. On their approach to the airfield the starboard engine failed.

Wellington HF570 made an emergency landing hitting a tree and caught fire.

Residents woken by the explosion rushed to the scene – American GIs stationed nearby, a farmer’s son, and a schoolboy and his dad dashed to see if they could help.

The plane’s fuel pump had failed, causing the engines to cut out, and as the 64ft-long aircraft rapidly lost altitude the pilot grappled with the controls to land the plane, wheels down away from houses.

Hitting the ground, the plane scrubbed off speed, demolishing a hedge, ploughing through a duck pond, and skidding across a paddock.

A one of the enormous wings was ripped off, the airplane came to an abrupt halt after hitting a tree finishing yards from a farmhouse.

The crash cut short the lives of three crew mates – Australian pilot Reg Byrne, Welshman Sgt Bill Barnett and Englishman Sgt Eddie Brisbourne.

78 years on, a memorial to the three men killed has been unveiled by members of their families to honour them and all those airmen who died while stationed there.

Also injured were Sgt. J. McNich, Sgt R. McDowell, and Flt Sgt Terence Francis O'Neill who were taken to sick quarters at RAF Desborough.