Overview
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. This walk will pause at the memorial then continue past Britchcombe Farm up a steep slope to the Ridgeway and then along the Lambourn Valley Way, veering off to Knighton Bushes. There we’ll swing north to walk across Odstone Down, over which the crash occurred, then descend to the Vale via Hardwell Wood, and back to the start via Woolstone. Afterwards we can visit Uffington Museum (optional), including the special exhibition about Wellington bomber DV595. Bring a picnic. Park at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, where there is a shop. The 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
Saturday, 25 May 2024
- Start time:
- 10:30 am
- Estimated finish time:
- 3:15 pm
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
- Distance:
- 17.1km / 10.6mi
- Ascent:
- N/A
- Type:
- circular
Note that the walk Finish Time is just an estimate and that timings on the day may be significantly different. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unless email is specifically requested in the walk description, please use the Walk Leader's telephone number(s) for any queries or bookings.
