Handley Page Halifax RT922
6.2 miles away
Staffordshire
Near Sheldon village Wellington Memorial
Near Sheldon village, Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines)
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
This village memorial (lancaster bomber flypast conducted at 80th anniversary 2022) was dedicated on Modern. Village memorial; Lancaster Bomber flypast conducted at 80th anniversary 2022.
Type
Village memorial (Lancaster Bomber flypast conducted at 80th anniversary 2022)
Dedication Date
Modern
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Near Sheldon village, Peak District (Derbyshire / South Pennines), Derbyshire
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What Happened
Conducting a high-altitude pressurisation trial over Derbyshire, Wellington W5795 was lost on 12 July 1942 after a propeller sheared away at 35,000 feet and tore through the aircraft's cabin. Squadron Leader Colmore was piloting the development flight when the stricken bomber came down near Sheldon village in the Peak District. Five were killed: S/Ldr Cyril Colmore, P/O Kenneth Radford, Fl/Sgt Ronald Gillott, Fl/Sgt Arthur Smith DFM, and civilian test observer Clifford Abbott — who had joined the crew in a non-military capacity and was aged just 23.
Community Connection
It was funded by a c£1500 grant from the War Memorials Trust and private donations. It was unveiled at a service on 11th July 2004. No community connection stories about a WW2 memorial were found in the provided text.
Remembrance
Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.
Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Wellington
Serial Number
W5795
Squadron
Bomber Command (test flight)
Date of Loss
1942-07-12
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Propeller sheared off at 35,000ft, tore through pressurised cabin
Crew (5 members)
About the Crew
S/Ldr Cyril L.F. Colmore(age 29)Pilot
Killed when the pressurised cabin was breached at 32,500 feet after a propeller blade sheared off, causing catastrophic decompression.
Squadron Leader and pilot, aged 29. Led the classified high-altitude pressurisation test programme from A&AEE Boscombe Down.
P/O Kenneth Radford(age 27)Pilot
Killed in the catastrophic decompression and subsequent crash.
Pilot Officer serving with the RAFVR as second pilot, aged 27.
Fl/Sgt Ronald P. Gillott(age 22)Crew
Killed in the crash. The aircraft disintegrated, with wreckage spread between Dale Abbey and Ockbrook.
Flight Sergeant serving with the RAF, aged 22.
Fl/Sgt Arthur J. Smith DFM(age 23)CrewDFM
Killed in the crash. His Distinguished Flying Medal indicates previous operational experience.
Flight Sergeant serving with the RAF, aged 23. Holder of the Distinguished Flying Medal, indicating exceptional operational service before his posting to the test programme.
Mr Clifford V. Abbott(age 23)Civilian Test Observer
Killed in the crash. A civilian technical observer monitoring the pressurisation test.
Civilian test observer aged 23, attached to the experimental programme at Boscombe Down. One of the rare civilian casualties among these memorial records.
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Sheldon Parish Meeting
Village memorial; Lancaster Bomber flypast conducted at 80th anniversary 2022.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Bakewell & District Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Sheldon Parish Meetingparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
WMO entry for the crew of Wellington Mk VI W5795 memorial in St Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley. Documents the polished grey granite tablet and the RAF badge design.
What you'll find: Explore the detailed documentation of Wellington Mk VI W5795 Memorial at St Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley.
WMO memorial reference 70206Memorial in St Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley
War Memorials TrustRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Trust grant record showing their financial contribution towards the Stanley Wellington Bomber W5795 memorial, unveiled 11 July 2004.
What you'll find: Historical details on the unveiling of the Sheldon village Wellington Memorial in 2004.
War Memorials Trust grant contributed to costsUnveiled 11 July 2004
Midlands Air Crash ResearchRetrieved 2026-03-23
MACR technical account of the Wellington W5795 crash. The aircraft was an experimental high-altitude variant with pressurised cabin being tested from A&AEE Boscombe Down. At 32,500 feet a propeller blade section sheared off, penetrating the cabin and causing decompression. Debris fell between Dale Abbey and Ockbrook.
What you'll find: Explore MACR's technical account of Wellington W5795 air crash at Boscombe Down.
Cruising altitude was 32,500 ft at time of failureWreckage spread between Dale Abbey and OckbrookA&AEE Boscombe Down test programmeOnly approximately 64 Wellington Mk VI built
Aviation Safety NetworkRetrieved 2026-03-23
Aviation Safety Network accident record for Wellington Mk IV W5795 on 12 July 1942, confirming the loss during a pressurisation test flight from Boscombe Down.
What you'll find: Review aviation safety network's accident report of Wellington Mk IV W5795 crash in 1942.
ASN wikibase reference 167908Classified as Mk IV in some records
Nearby Memorials
Sources
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Trust (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Midlands Air Crash Research (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Safety Network (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Derbyshire Times; rolandmillward.com (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-23
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