Hampden AD730

The Hampden had been on sortie to Berlin on the night of
the 17th. Cloud cover over the target was dense, so a
secondary target had to be bombed, the crew had evaded
flak & nightfighters and were on their way back to their
50 squadron base at RAF Waddington,Yorkshire,when they
flew off course in bad weather.

Flying on a North-Westerly heading, crossing Devon and
South Wales, the bomber droned on into the early hours
of the 18th and crossed the Irish sea, unbeknownst to
the crew heading for Dublin.

At approximately 04.34 hours, and practically out of fuel,
the stricken bomber struck Black Hill in the Wicklow
Mountains above the village of Blessington, 20 miles south
of Dublin,all the 4 crew perished in the crash and were
found the day after by a Shepherd.

Crew of AD730 were:

Pilot: P/O John Kenneth Hill.
Navigator: Sgt Jack Lamb.
Wireless/AG: Sgt Fred Erdwin.
Air Gunner: Sgt Stan Wright.

Photo: Handley Page Hampden, a painting by Alan E.Jones.


	PILOT OFFICER KEN HILL

P/O John `Ken` Hill hailed from East Croydon,London,
He had a keen interest in aircraft since childhood,
watching them take off and land at Croydon Airport.
He joined the RAF as a Volunteer Reserve in 1938,
and by the time of the crash had flown a tally of 28
missions with 50 Squadron.

Photo: Colin Hill Via John Quinn.


	Flight Sergeant Fred Erdwin.

F/Sgt Fred Erdwin from Frodshim,Cheshire,was one of
three brothers to have joined the RAF, He was it has
been said a very competant Wireless Operator and had
flown many Ops over enememy territory. At the time of
the accident he had been in line to receive a commission.

Photo: Via John Quinn.


	The Hills above Blessington

Looking across the golf course to the hills above the village
of Blessington,to where the Hampden crashed in April 1941.


	Memorial Stone on Black Hill .

A memorial stone was placed at the crash site on the 50th
anniversary and bears the names of the crew of AD730.

Photo.John Quinn.


	Last Resting Place.

Last resting place of the 4 Hampden crew in St.Mary`s
Churchyard,Blessington.

Photo: John Quinn.