After the summer recess members met again on Thursday at the Expanse Hotel when the new chairman Len Collins welcomed everyone. He explained that five members were absent taking part in a charity walk. After an excellent lunch the chairman introduced the guest speaker, Alan Alsop, himself a member of Driffield Probus Club.
Alan’s talk had the mysterious title “3rd November 1948”. In dramatic style and graphic detail Alan described the events on this day when, as a 19 year old aircraftsman, he became involved in tragic air accident.
A B29 Super Fortress of the USAF set at 10.15am from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire to fly to Burtonwood military camp in Lancashire. The weather conditions were bad. It was cold, wet and visibility was very poor. In the early afternoon the B29 ploughed into Bleaklow Hill, close to the Snake Pass in the Peak District and caught fire.
It took a fully equipped rescue team 20 minutes to reach the scene but they were met by a picture of devastation. A huge bonfire engulfed the moor and no-one could have survived.
Alan, who was stationed at Buxton at the time, volunteered to go to the scene as a stretcher bearer, a task that involved a slog across boggy ground in bitter cold and thick fog. On arriving at the scene he was struck by the devastation but also by the number of American military police. Their presence centred around the discovery of 3750 dollars, which had survived the fire unscathed and apparently was being taken to Burtonwood as wages for American personnel there!
Alan was involved in collecting all kinds of items scattered about in the crash and also in the carrying down of body bags from the moor.
Parts of the aeroplane remain on the moor and poppies are regularly scattered at times of remembrance and in 1988 a memorial stone was delivered to the site, where all 13 on board were killed.
The day’s events left a lasting impression on Alan and in 1948 it was not fashionable for counselling to be offered to those involved in such events. The vote of thanks for a talk which held everyone’s attention was given by Ron Major.
Alan’s talk had the mysterious title “3rd November 1948”. In dramatic style and graphic detail Alan described the events on this day when, as a 19 year old aircraftsman, he became involved in tragic air accident.
A B29 Super Fortress of the USAF set at 10.15am from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire to fly to Burtonwood military camp in Lancashire. The weather conditions were bad. It was cold, wet and visibility was very poor. In the early afternoon the B29 ploughed into Bleaklow Hill, close to the Snake Pass in the Peak District and caught fire.
It took a fully equipped rescue team 20 minutes to reach the scene but they were met by a picture of devastation. A huge bonfire engulfed the moor and no-one could have survived.
Alan, who was stationed at Buxton at the time, volunteered to go to the scene as a stretcher bearer, a task that involved a slog across boggy ground in bitter cold and thick fog. On arriving at the scene he was struck by the devastation but also by the number of American military police. Their presence centred around the discovery of 3750 dollars, which had survived the fire unscathed and apparently was being taken to Burtonwood as wages for American personnel there!
Alan was involved in collecting all kinds of items scattered about in the crash and also in the carrying down of body bags from the moor.
Parts of the aeroplane remain on the moor and poppies are regularly scattered at times of remembrance and in 1988 a memorial stone was delivered to the site, where all 13 on board were killed.
The day’s events left a lasting impression on Alan and in 1948 it was not fashionable for counselling to be offered to those involved in such events. The vote of thanks for a talk which held everyone’s attention was given by Ron Major.