V - Uffington Wellington Bomber circular

Uffington Wellington bomber walk. At 0105 hours on 25 August 1942 Wellington bomber DV595, on a night bombing practice flight out of RAF Harwell over Odstone Down (SSW of Uffington), collided with Wellington N2755 from RAF Hampstead Norris. N2755 survived but DV595 crashed, killing all the crew. A small memorial plaque was later put in place alongside FP19, which leads up onto the downs, in Uffington parish. Uffington Museum is commemorating the crew of DV595, and indirectly all the young men who died in accidents during WWII, with a special exhibition. From Uffington we’ll make our way south towards the downs, pausing at the memorial to the lost aircrew. Shortly afterwards we turn east along footpaths to the hamlet of Fawler. From there we head uphill (moderately steep), with the Vale behind us, to the Ridgeway, turning right towards White Horse Hill, with lovely views over the downs. When we reach the return footpath to Britchcombe Farm we can look SW to Odstone Down, where the two aircraft collided. From the Farm we follow footpaths through pasture and woodland, passing the memorial again, into Uffington. Afterwards the Museum will be opened specially for us to have a look around (optional), including the special exhibition about Wellington bomber DV595. Park at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, where there is a shop. The Fox and Hounds pub serves sandwiches and omelettes between 12 pm and 3 pm. Uffington Museum (www.uffingtonmuseum.co.uk) is open, free, on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 pm, Easter to end October. Vale Walk Leader DC 01367 820683 / 07544 979253