AIR CADETS ON the IBCC WALLS

The Walls of Remembrance at the International Bomber Command Centre carry the names of 37 boys who were under 18 years old and were lost during World War II.

Aged just 14 years old, Cadet Peter Bond, is the youngest name to be remembered. Along with Cadet Desmond Fox and Cadet 1st Class Ernest Hall, both aged just 17 years old, all were lost on 8 September 1943.

All the boys were members of Chapel-en-Le-Firth Flight of 1180 (Buxton) Squadron, and had helped to raise money via “Wings For Victory” for two Lancasters stationed at RAF Elsham Wolds.

Lancaster JB153, of 103 Squadron was due for a cross-country air test after completing nine operations, including Peenemunde, the month before.  The three cadets were allowed on board so that they could experience a flight in a WWII heavy bomber.

The aircraft took off and was seen flying circuits of the RAF station at about 400ft before turning to port.  Something caused the aircraft to go into a spin. The plane tumbled violently for 250 yards as it hit the ground, colliding with a tree and bursting into flames killing all on board. It crashed south-east of Wymeswold Airfield, Leicestershire.

An inquest was unable to establish the cause, so the crash was recorded as an ‘accident’.

The three cadets had a joint funeral attended by almost 800 people, and with full military honours, were interred in a communal grave.

The crash of Lancaster JB153 was the biggest loss of Air Cadets, as well as the loss of the youngest.

CREW OF LANCASTER JB153 :

Cadet Peter Bond                             ATC 1180 Squadron                                                        Panel 10

Cadet Desmond John Fox             ATC 1180 Squadron                                                        Panel 37

Cadet 1st Class Ernest Hall            ATC 1180 Squadron                                                        Panel 44

FS Alfred Buxton (RAAF)                406992                                  Pilot                                       Panel 16

FS Gordon Daldy (RAAF)                409668                                  Air Gunner                          Panel 26

SGT Norman Kidd (RAFVR)           1554620                                Navigator                            Panel 59

SGT John Leeming (RAFVR)          1684485                                Flight Engineer                  Panel 62

SGT Gerald Sweeney (RAFVR)     1367821                                Air Gunner                          Panel 104

SGT William Whalley (RAFVR)     1473130                                Wireless Op                        Panel 114

You can search our walls and find out more about each person remembered there in lock down on our Losses Database.

New blogs are added daily, visit our blog space to read more.

Are you on Social Media? We are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, follow us to find out the latest International Bomber Command Centre news first!