Personnel Index - Detail
Bert Ashcroft picture looking up at Lincoln Cathedral
Bert Ashcroft with his regular crew
(Pilot F/L George Lee is top left with Bert next to him)A Mosquito aircraft landed at Fulbeck on 27th October 1944 for fighter affiliation exercises with Lancaster crews using the new 'Village Inn' detection radar. 'The Mosquito pilot went into the crew room where there were a number of flight engineers…....one refused a trip with him but 'Bert' said "Yes I'll go" and up they went.
They rendezvoused with the Lancaster and went through the usual attack and counter- manoeuvre procedures. Unfortunately, 20 minutes after take-off, on one movement, the Mosquito was unable to pull out of the dive and plunged into Stapleford Woods, near Coddington, and two miles East North East of Newark. The pilot and the 49 Sq Flight Engineer were both killed. A funeral service was held at St John the Baptist Church, Wolverley, where Bert is buried at the far end of the church yard. There is no military headstone, but the grave is marked and very well maintained. He is also remembered on the WW2 Memorial adjacent to St. Mary's Church, Kidderminster.'