Oxfordshire RAF base honours five airmen after deaths

A service was held at a memorial cairn, which is a human-made stack of stones, that commemorates the No. 297 Squadron from RAF Brize Norton who died during World War Two.

The ceremony was held on August 27, 82 years after the loss of Royal Air Force Albemarle V1782, which crashed near the Oxfordshire village of Black Bourton on 27 August 1944, killing all five members of its crew.

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They were flight sergeants Alan Henry Busbridge, Bernard Vincent Mowan and William Frederick Insley, as well as sergeants Kenneth James Shay and Edgar Frederick Bonser.

Representing RAF Brize Norton, Wing Commander Steve Jones said: “It was a privilege to represent RAF Brize Norton at today’s Albemarle Commemoration.

A Service of Remembrance was held for the five crew members who died after their Albemarle V1782 aircraft crashed near RAF Brize Norton 82 years ago (Image: RICHARD WATT. / RF BZN)

“We gather not only to remember those who served and sacrificed, but also to honour the enduring bond between the RAF and the communities that support us.

“Their courage, commitment and sense of duty remain an inspiration to us all, and it is fitting that we come together to ensure their legacy is never forgotten.”

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The Albemarle V1782 crew had been involved in wartime flying from RAF Brize Norton, including operations connected with the Allied airborne campaign and missions supporting resistance forces in occupied France.

They were returning to base following an operational mission when, during the attempted landing, the aircraft overshot the runway and crashed in a field at Mill Farm, near Black Bourton.

Now, the site at Mill Farm is marked by a memorial cairn commemorating the five airmen, with acts of remembrance held there on successive anniversaries including RAF personnel, veterans’ organisations, relatives and members of the local community.