Memorial to Second World War aircraft crash revealed at Walton Park

Two Australian airmen, Flight Sergeant Edward Thompson and Flight Sergeant Frederick Matthews, died in the incident at Walton Park almost 80 years ago, whilst the rest of the six-man crew were injured.

According to George Cogswell, a historian who led the appeal for a permanent memorial after a lot of research into the crash, it was caused by a cut-out in both engines on the bomber as it was over Sale on manoeuvres.

Stricken, the aircraft circled over the town and even clipped tall trees and telegraph wires before it came down in Walton Park, in an area turned over to allotments as a result of the Dig for Victory campaign.

The permanent memorial was revealed at Walton Park. Picture: Darren Marsden (Image: Darren Marsden)

Mr Cogswell told The Messenger all but one of the crew on the bomber were Australian and two of them, Flight Sergeant Thompson and Flight Sergeant Matthews, died in the crash. Both are buried at Blacon Cemetery.

Flight Sergeant Edward Newell, Flight Sergeant John McCarthy and Flying Officer Clive Luther all died later in the war, while Flight Sergeant Keith Forbes was the only one to survive it. However, his injuries were so serious he did not take to the air again.

All six are set to be remembered after a permanent memorial was revealed this week at a service attended by Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Chris Boyes, as well as by members of the Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.