Crew Memorials; Lancaster
and Spitfire
Location:
up a small gated track off the Long Bennington to Bottesford road, just before the turn
off to Staunton in the Vale.
Location:
east of Grantham just off the A52. St Peter’s church is open daily.
Long Bennington
This memorial site
commemorates the crew
of Lancaster LM311, 467
Squadron RAAF, which
crashed on 13th July
1943 whilst attempting
an emergency landing
at RAF Bottesford.
Lancaster
LM311, L –
Lancaster Crew
Liz’beth, was
Pilot, Sgt C A Chapman
noted for its
– RAAF (aged 20)
nose art. The
Flight Engineer, Sgt J Greenwood
aircraft is
– RAFVR (aged 25)
reputed
to have
Navigator, Sgt A E Micheals
secured
– RAVR (aged 21)
its
Wireless Op, Sgt P Donlevy (aged 19)
Air Bomber, Sgt N C Smith
– RAVR (aged 21)
Air Gunner, Sgt W Bruce
– RAVR (aged 20)
Air Gunner, Sgt W S Buchanan
– RAVR (aged 20)
28
name from the fiancée of
one the crew who served as
a WAAF at RAF Bottesford.
Another version indicates that
it was named after the mother
of the youngest crew member:
19-year-old wireless operator
Sgt Patrick Donlevy from the
small village of Pathhead, in
Midlothian, Scotland.
The aircraft, although flying
with an ‘Australian’ squadron
was largely crewed by
Scotsmen.
Their target on 12th/13th
July had been the Italian city
of Turin. It was their 14th Op
with the squadron but their
first to Italy. Damaged over
the target, the crew managed
to fly back to England. They
were in contact with their home
airfield and trying to make an
emergency landing. Lancaster
LM 311 struck the ground
and exploded in a massive