Consider the sky over Oxford on May 4, 1941. Here at the Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque we remember a tragic event. It claimed the lives of three airmen and a local resident. This plaque serves as a poignant reminder of that day.
The Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque is located outside the Leonard Wolfson Auditorium of Wolfson College. This is the very site where the crash occurred. The plaque is a brushed metal rectangle. It bears a simple yet profound inscription. It remembers those who perished.
The inscription on the Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque reads: “In memory of the crew of the Whitley V aircraft which crashed here on a training flight from RAF Abingdon, on 4 May 1941.” It then lists the names of the fallen airmen. They were Pilot Officer Charles Nairn Small, Pilot Officer William Alexander Munro Halley, and Sergeant John Alfred Mochan. The plaque also honors Frances Emma Hitchcox, a local resident.
The story behind the Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque is heartrending. The Whitley V bomber was on a training flight from RAF Abingdon. The plane experienced difficulties after flying over New Marston. It clipped the western bank of the River Cherwell. The aircraft then careened into Linton Road.
Tragically, the plane struck a cottage. This cottage was part of Cherwell Farm. Joseph Hitchcox, the farmer, lived there with his wife Frances. Frances Hitchcox was severely injured in the crash. She died the next day at the Radcliffe Infirmary. Her son Kenneth was pulled from the wreckage. Two policemen and a member of the Home Guard rescued him. He survived but was badly injured.
Engine failure was the likely cause of the crash. Reports suggest the aircraft had not been refueled after its previous flight. The pilots may have been unaware of this critical oversight when they took off from Abingdon.
The Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque was unveiled on May 4, 2014. Hermione Lee, President of Wolfson College, performed the ceremony. The event was attended by the nephew and niece of Sergeant John Mochan. Three surviving eyewitnesses were also present.
Before Wolfson College occupied this site, a house called “Cherwell” stood here. It belonged to Mrs. Haldane, widow of J. B. S. Haldane. The adjoining farm cottage was just north of the house. This is where the Hitchcox family lived. The plane ultimately came to rest after hitting what is now 31 Linton Road.
The Whitley V Aircraft Crash Memorial Plaque ensures that their sacrifice is not forgotten. It reminds us of the fragility of life. It also demonstrates the enduring power of remembrance. The plaque serves as a place for reflection. It encourages us to honor those who died.