Moordown air disaster
On 21 March 1944, a Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax bomber crashed in Moordown, Bournemouth, Hampshire soon after take-off from RAF Hurn killing nine people.
Crash
The Halifax, serial number JP137, was dispatched from No 3 Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit at Hurn at 00:33 hours bound for Morocco on transfer to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in the Second World War. Flying westerly, the plane turned into a wide arc, presumably in an attempt to return to Hurn, it flew over East Howe towards Wallisdown turning south over Talbot Woods and due east over Winton when it descended towards Moordown. The plane clipped buildings, including a Victorian chapel and the tram depot. The plane crashed in a residential area at the corner of Wimborne Road and Meadow Court Close. With a full fuel tank the plane burst into flames. There were no survivors on board. Two civilians were also killed in their homes.Casualties
The plane crash resulted in nine fatalities:From the RAF Volunteer Reserve
- Pilot Sergeant Denis Evans, 20, of Middlesex
- Navigator Sgt Henry Roberts, 35, of Gloucestershire
- Bomb Aimer Flying Officer Stanley Appleton, 30, of Wembley
- Wireless Operator Sgt George Alexander, 23, of Bedford
- Flight Engineer Sgt Stanley Gent, 22, of Portslade
- Air Gunner Sgt Kenneth Green, 20, of Kingston upon Hull
- Air Gunner Sgt Reginald McGregor, 21, of New Westminster, Canada
- Dorothea Bennett, 59, of Flat 9 Meadow Court, Wimborne Road
- Percy Chislett, 49, of 1027 Wimborne Road