REASON FOR LOSS:

Took-off from Waddington. Crashed at Oosterhout, 8km north east of Breda, Holland. Reason unknown.

The shattered remains of P4286 at Oosterhout.


The crew were first buried in this field grave, at the edge of the field where the Hampden crashed.
This photo shows the dignity and respect shown by the Luftwaffe to allied aircrews.

Memorial on the graves at the crash site erected by the Luftwaffe.At the time of the crash the Luftwaffe were only able to identify oneof the crew, Sgt. McKinley, his name is inscribed on the cross along with 3 unknown. The memorial also includes one of the fins and rudders from P4286, along with other items of wreckage, note also the flying helmet on top of the cross. (All photo's courtesy Jan Jolie)

Burial Details:

Oosterhout Protestant Cemetery, Holland.

Flying Officer. Leslie James Ashfield. Grave 5.
Son of Frederick Henry and Stina Ashfield, of Horseheath, Cambridgeshire
.
Pilot Officer. Charles Douglas Crawley. Grave 3.
Son of Charles Eustace Finlay Crawley and Margaret Crawley, of Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.

Sergeant. Wallace Francis McKinlay. Grave 6.
Son of Robert C. and Winnifred McKinlay, of Bearsden, Dunbartonshire.

Corporal. Frank Preston. Grave 4.
Son of Frank and Annie Preston, of Denton's Green, St. Helens, Lancashire.

The British Library is preserving this site for the future in the UK Web Archive at www.webarchive.org.uk All Aircrew Remembered on our Remembrance pages, are therefor not just remembered here, but also subsequently remembered and recorded as part of our nation’s history
and heritage at The British Library.

Aircrew Remembrance Society 2013 © David King, Melvin Brownless & Alexander King.