Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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09.08.1943 82 OTU Wellington X MS471 P/O. Walter W. Adams

Operation: Non-Operational Day Flying Training

Date: 9th August 1943 (Monday)

Unit No: 82 Operational Training Unit (OTU)

Type: Wellington X

Serial: MS471

Code: KA:G

Base: RAF Ossington, Nottinghamshire

Location: Grimston Hill beween Wellow and Ompton, Nottinghamshire

Pilot: Plt Off. Walter Waldron Adams 150243 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Obs: Fg Off. Frank Graham-Bell 135747 RAF Age 32. Killed (1)

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Herbert Ibbott J24024 RCAF Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Roland Walter Ballauff 1390845 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Peter Baldwin 1861770 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

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A resident from the area of the crash is compiling research on each crew member for the village records and would very much like to hear from anyone with further information - please contact us in the first instance.

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REASON FOR LOSS:

The investigation into the accident determined that the aircraft was returning from cross-country and had acknowledged instructions on the R/T to land after switching on nacelles. No further transmissions were received by Control from this aircraft.

The aircraft crashed approximately 4 miles from the airfield in a cornfield at Grimston Hill . An eye witness stated that it was flying low with the starboard airscrew wind milling, it pulled up and climbed slightly then crashed. The aircraft appears to have experienced failure of the starboard engine up-wind of the airfield, was unable to maintain a height on one engine and was attempting to crash land.

The aircraft came down some 60 yards short of a line of strong and closely spaced telegraph poles in the pilot’s line of approach to a field. It would seem that he was trying to lift the aircraft over this obstruction and subsequently stalled from a low height. The aircraft struck first with the starboard wing, a further confirmation of the suspected failure of the starboard engine. The Pilot was inexperienced on type, but had received adequate instruction on single engine flying and landings, and in the opinion of his flight Commander was quite capable of making a circuit and landing on one engine.

A lack of concrete evidence makes accurate diagnosis difficult, but it is considered that recovery following failure of the starboard engine may have resulted in the considerable loss of height and subsequent inability to fly on one engine.

Police Sgt. Ernest John Thomas Flinders of the Nottinghamshire constabulary, who was nearby, attempted to rescue the crew. For this brave deed he was awarded the BEM. On seeing the Wellington crash he ran to the scene ignoring the ammunition that was exploding with the intense heat and managed to pull two crew members out of the burning aircraft but unfortunately they were dead.

Details from the London Gazette - 21st March 1944:

‘Sergeant Flinders, who was on leave, ran across two fields to the aircraft and, despite exploding ammunition, made a quick reconnaissance to locate the crew. He found three members who were seriously injured amongst the burning wreckage, dragged all three clear of the fire and cut away their smouldering clothing. With help he then extricated two more bodies from the wreckage. A portion of one wing of the aircraft was wrenched away and lodged upside down on a stook of corn nearby. Petrol was flowing from this wing and there was danger of it becoming ignited. After getting the bodies out Sergeant Flinders directed and assisted in extinguishing the burning sheaves of corn, a large area of which had become ignited. Sergeant Flinders showed - outstanding courage without thought for his own safety.’

(1) Fg Off. Frank Graham-Bell (known was Graham) a talented British painter and art critic for the New Statesman. His work included portraits, landscapes, interiors, and still life. Two of his paintings depicted below. 'The Barn' - courtesy Southwark Art Collection and 'The Café' - Manchester City Galleries

Burial details:

Plt Off. Walter Waldron Adams. Bournemouth Crematorium. Panel 1. Son of Walter Alexander and Madeline Maude Adams, of Winton, Bournemouth, England.

Fg Off. Frank Graham-Bell. Golders Green Crematorium. Panel 2. Born in Johannesburg on the 21st November 1910. Son of Frank and Marjorie Graham Bell, husband of Anne Graham Bell, of Beckley, Sussex, England.

Plt Off. Herbert Ibbott J24024 RCAF and grave marker.

Plt Off. Herbert Ibbott. Bedford Cemetery. Sec H. Grave 838. Grave inscription: ‘WITH A CHEERY SMILE A WAVE OF THE HAND HE HAS WANDERED INTO AN UNKNOWN LAND’. Born on the 2nd August 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Son of Arthur William Peers and Caroline (née Whittle) Ibbott of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Herbert Abbott was shipping clerk with Mitchell Corp Ltd prior to enlisting on the 9th October 1941. A large family of 5 boys and 3 girls.

He was buried in the Bedford Cemetery because that is where his family was originally from and was buried alongside his grandfather, at the request of his Aunt, Mrs A. Whittle.

Ibbott Lake southwest of Nueltin Lake was named after Plt Off. Herbert Ibbott in 1972.

Sgt. Roland Walter Ballauff. Ollerton Cemetery. Cons Portion. Grave 1205. Grave inscription: ‘FOR EVER IN THE THOUGHTS. OF THOSE WHO LOVED HIM’. Son of Henry Ballauff, and of Dorothy M. Ballauff, of Bridgwater, Somerset, England.

Above as described - taken by Tony Glover for Aircrew Remembered

Sgt. Peter Baldwin. Ollerton Cemetery. Cons Portion. Grave 1180. Grave Inscription: ‘KILLED IN A BOMBER CRASH. DEARLY LOVED ONLY SON OF OWEN AND EDITH M. BALDWIN. SINCERELY MOURNED’. Son of Owen and Edith Mary Baldwin, of Wallington, Surrey, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the families and the crew (Jun 2015). For further details our thanks to Harry Ree and folks at the WW2 Talk Forum, Wikipedia, also to Tony Glover for grave photographs - (Jan 2018). Thanks to Paul Allonby (Biographer of the navigator, South African/UK artist Frank Graham-Bell, on behalf of the Tate Gallery) for the family burial information for Plt Off. Ibbott (Aug 2024). Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered (Aug 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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