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WWII Cowley, Oxford, Aircraft Crash

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GEOFJA

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HI

Anyone know anything about a large a/c that crashed on Cowley Airfield (Use bu Morris Motors for small aircraft servicing. The 'plan clipped couple of houses on streets adjoining the airfield. Guess that was in 1943/44 as parents too me to see it - all I remember was pile of I guess air plane pieces!

I have never found out what happened to the plane. It sounds like pilot had to used airfield in emergency and runway was maybe too small?
Would like to hear more on this event -

GEOF
 
leefer

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That was the famous Bristol crash Julie..still talked alot about,it was really close to being a major disaster being so close to schools hospitals etc....the Cowley incident is very mysterious with some people claiming it to be a hoax..the airfield was used for bringing back air wrecks and some say that it was a hoax,,,ive never been able to track any info about it.
 
juliejtp

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Hi Geoff,

To reply to this post scroll down until you come to post reply, click on that, then there will be a box that comes up for the reply to be typed once done click on submit reply.
 
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HI

Info needed for Cowley, Oxford, Oxfordshire England - during WWII. Cowley is suburb of Oxford, and Morris WOrks was there during WWII and built Tiger Moth airplanes, and serviced Spitfires and some other fighter planes. Not well known airfield there- now is council housing estate. Morris Motors I think is no longer there!

AM looking for anyone who knows of large aircraft that crashed on Cowley airfield sometime 1943/44. I seem to have posted t his elsewhere- but got no responses! Happened in late afternoon- early evening, and clipped couple of houses.

Guess to know this you would need to have lived in Cowley, Oxford at the time - since obviously plenty of aircraft crashed in UK during the war!!!

Thanks
 
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p.risboy said:
Hi Geoff,

Was it this one :- http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2007/1/8/124215.html

I don't think this one crashed, but they had to strip it out so it could take off again.

Steve.:)
Click to expand...
No, this one crashed! I remember seeing pile of wreckage from gate/fence to
airfield. Other people there too looking at pile! This was sometime after it crashed, as my mother could not take me (guess I was 3 years old? when it actually hit. Also, many years later, woman told me plane took some tiles off the roof of her house - which overlooked the airfield.

Thanks for looking

GEOF
 
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GEOFJA

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leefer said:
That was the famous Bristol crash Julie..still talked alot about,it was really close to being a major disaster being so close to schools hospitals etc....the Cowley incident is very mysterious with some people claiming it to be a hoax..the airfield was used for bringing back air wrecks and some say that it was a hoax,,,ive never been able to track any info about it.
Click to expand...
NO hoax!!! Could have been major disaster as apparently it clipped house at edge of airport. No schools or hospitals near - factory of course - and houses. Guess was pilot was forced to make crash landing.


I saw wreckage prob hour or more after it hit. Remember pile of wreckage (buldozed pile I think!). No idea how mother knew it crashed as our house was one row away from the airfield - just remember I did not want to go with neighbor to see it, so had to wait for mother to get time to go. S

GEOF
 
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GEOFJA

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juliejtp said:
Hi Geoff,

The local studies centre maybe able to help, see link below.

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/p...ure/History+and+heritage/Oxfordshire+Studies/
Click to expand...

HI

I Am almost getting the hang of this site - actually finding how to post answers! Interesting that no one seems to know about the 'crash'- given workers on the airfield, and kids like myself who may have seen it. Have tried to get answers to this for years! probably was in Oxford Mail...BUT archives of this are prob in what as St Lukes Church - now a museum. AND...Lakeland Florida is not that close!

Thanks for your help

GEOF
 
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GEOFJA said:
NO hoax!!! Could have been major disaster as apparently it clipped house at edge of airport. No schools or hospitals near - factory of course - and houses. Guess was pilot was forced to make crash landing.


I saw wreckage prob hour or more after it hit. Remember pile of wreckage (buldozed pile I think!). No idea how mother knew it crashed as our house was one row away from the airfield - just remember I did not want to go with neighbor to see it, so had to wait for mother to get time to go. S

GEOF
Click to expand...
hI

RE the crash! I was I think about 3 years old - so obviously not that aware of what went on. I do remember seeing Tiger Moth airplanes on the field - unfortunately don't remember seeing much aircraft actiity- given I was taken for walks round part of it. I remember a crane lifting up biplane (Tiger Moth) and pieces falling from it!!! NO idea why - just one of those scenes. But pile of 'junk' from the crash is vivid in my mind. and the people around myself and mother who looked that the remains (from a locked gate it seems) So - yeah it was real! But what and when remains to me a mystery!

I also read that the airfield and and factory were used to refubish Spits and other smaller aircraft.


Remains of dozens of planes were kept - even for years after the war - at a scrap yard on Garsington Road, for the MPRD (Metal Processing Reclamation Department) - a fancy MOD term for recycling plant! part of Morris Motors I think

GEOF



GEOF
 
G

GEOFJA

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juliejtp said:
Hi Geoff,

The local studies centre maybe able to help, see link below.

http://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wps/p...ure/History+and+heritage/Oxfordshire+Studies/
Click to expand...


Thanks Julie

Local studies would prob help - but...they are in UK and I am in FLorida! Could be and expensive search to have them do it for me! Was hoping might still be someone around who live near the then-airfield and remembered it!
Guess I should have followed up on this crash some years back!!! Thanks for your help anyway!

GEOF
 
leefer

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Hi..i dont live to far away and i drive for a living..so when the opportunity arises will pop in and have a nose................its interesting,and certainly surprises me that there isnt more info..regards..Lee.
 
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GEOFJA

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leefer said:
Hi..i dont live to far away and i drive for a living..so when the opportunity arises will pop in and have a nose................its interesting,and certainly surprises me that there isnt more info..regards..Lee.
Click to expand...
HI Lee

I am in FLorida - so no idea where you live! I used to live on Rahere road-on op side of the then airfield. I have always been curious about the crash. as years back, woman at place where I worked said 'plane took few tiles off the roof! Unfortunately the internet has only recently become available (tho' I was using it at univ back in 1985!) - thus following up on the even would need my being in UK...which I have not been in years!

Unfortunately too, I was about 3 at time and would not go with neighbor to see the event soon after it happened. By the time my mother got me to a viewpoint it had been bulldozed to a pile! Would really like to know what happened!

GEOF
 
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GEOFJA

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GEOFJA said:
NO hoax!!! Could have been major disaster as apparently it clipped house at edge of airport. No schools or hospitals near - factory of course - and houses. Guess was pilot was forced to make crash landing.


I saw wreckage prob hour or more after it hit. Remember pile of wreckage (buldozed pile I think!). No idea how mother knew it crashed as our house was one row away from the airfield - just remember I did not want to go with neighbor to see it, so had to wait for mother to get time to go. S

GEOF
Click to expand...
test on July - supposedly I can't do anything on this site 'cept read! So trying this out!
 
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