A recovery of a Mosquito in rural
Shropshire found more than the team had bargained for. Mosquito
KB224 was one of 200 Mk XX Mosquitos delivered between March
and July 1944 by DH Canada, Downsview.
It was attached to from 1655 Mosquito Training Unit when
its pilot got into difficulties and lost control in turbulence;
the aircraft 'bunted' and a wing became detached. It crashed
at Leebotwood, Shropshire, on 19 August 1944.
Flight Lieutenant J M Pearce and Pilot Officer A A Young were
both killed.
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The site had been excavated many years before and
it was known that one Merlin engine hade been found
- would anything be left?
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A mainwheel tyre soon emerged from the hole with
the remains of the second Merlin.
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What started as a regular excavation turned into
a 5 day media event when a distictly 'non-airframe'
item emerged from the side of the hole.
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The RAF EOD unit (bomb disposal) was summoned and
arrived the following morning.
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More digging uncovered the 500lb bomb. It was decided
that the safest thing to do was to blow it up on site
after evacuating a 1500 metre safety zone.
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One of the EOD team with part of the bomb after the
explosion .
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The bang.
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