Moordown air disaster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Moordown, Bournemouth, England
 The Halifax Memorial at Moordown. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 March 1944 |
| Summary | Mechanical failure |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Handley Page Halifax |
| Aircraft name | Halifax JP137 |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Flight origin | Hurn Airport |
| Destination | Morocco |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 9 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 21 March 1944, a Royal Air Force Handley Page Halifax bomber crashed in Moordown, Bournemouth, Hampshire (now Dorset) soon after take-off from RAF Hurn (now known as Bournemouth Airport) killing nine people.
The Halifax, serial number JP137, was dispatched from No 3 Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit at Hurn at 00:33 hours bound for Morocco on transfer to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in the Second World War.[1] Flying westerly, the plane turned into a wide arc, presumably in an attempt to return to Hurn, it flew over East Howe towards Wallisdown turning south over Talbot Woods and due east over Winton when it descended towards Moordown.[2] The plane clipped buildings, including a Victorian chapel and the tram depot.[3] The plane crashed in a residential area at the corner of Wimborne Road and Meadow Court Close.[4] With a full fuel tank the plane burst into flames.[5] There were no survivors on board.[6] Two civilians were also killed in their homes.[5]
