In Edith Weston at 4pm on Sunday 4th March 1945 a Lancaster bomber returning to RAF North Luffenham from a training flight crashed and caught fire, killing the crew of five British and three Australian airmen:

Flt Sgt Terrance Trusket Royal Australian Air Force Pilot age 25y

Fg Off Bernard Drake RAF Navigator age 24y

WO Donald McLellan Royal Australian Air Force Wireless operator age 26y

Flt Sgt William Ford RAF Bomb Aimer age 32y

Flt Sgt Ian Yorkston Royal Australian Air Force Navigator age 26y

Sgt Dennis Gilbert RAF Pilot/Flight engineer age 26y

Sgt William Ratcliffe RAF Air Gunner 25y

Sgt James Thompson RAF Air Gunner age 19y


A memorial plaque bearing the names of the airmen can be found on the churchyard wall close to where the plane came to rest.