Crew of Wellington W5444
2.4 miles away
Norfolk
Hindolveston Wellington Memorial
Hindolveston, Norfolk
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
It is maintained by Hindolveston Parish Council.
Type
Memorial stone
Inscription
In Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives on 11th December 1943 When Wellington BK440 Crashed Near Park Farm, Hindolveston. [crew names inscribed on memorial]
LocationApproximate Location
Hindolveston, Norfolk, Norfolk
what3words: ///tribes.carrots.derailed
What Happened
On the night of 11 December 1943, Wellington BK440 departed RAF Little Horwood on a training flight with 16 OTU. The aircraft came down near Hindolveston, Norfolk, killing all six crew members on board. Flight Sergeant A. Merridew was among those lost, alongside E. W. Brown, N. Doherty, A. W. Ellis, W. E. Martin, and S. Wilson. There were no survivors. The crash site is commemorated by the village of Hindolveston, which maintains a memorial to the crew in remembrance of their sacrifice.
Community Connection
The Vickers Wellington BK440 memorial was captured in an image by Tony Hibberd and shared with the IBCC.
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
BK440
Squadron
16 OTU
Station
Little Horwood
Date of Loss
1943-12-11
Crew (6 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Hindolveston Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Holt Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Hindolveston Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23
The IWM registers the memorial to the crew of Wellington BK440 at Hindolveston. The aircraft was on a navigation training sortie from RAF Little Horwood when it crashed near Park Farm, Hindolveston, approximately 8 miles ESE of Fakenham, exploding at about 0800 hours on 11 December 1943.
What you'll find: The IWM War Memorials Register entry for Hindolveston Wellington Memorial.
IWM memorial reference 101339Crashed near Park Farm, HindolvestonExploded at approximately 0800 hoursNavigation training sortie
Heroes of Our TimeRetrieved 2026-03-23
Local history website created by Donna Gray based on war research by her late father Richard of Hindolveston. Documents the Wellington BK440 crash and its impact on the rural Norfolk community, providing personal accounts and local context.
What you'll find: Explore local history through detailed accounts of the Wellington BK440 crash's profound impact on rural Norfolk community.
Local family research projectPersonal accounts from Hindolveston residents
Hindolveston VillageRetrieved 2026-03-23
The Hindolveston parish council maintains a World War remembrance links page that includes reference to the Wellington BK440 crash memorial as part of the village's WW2 heritage.
What you'll find: Explore Hindolveston's WWII Heritage and Wellington BK440 Crash Memorial on Parish Council's Remembrance Page.
Parish council maintains remembrance page
Nearby Memorials
Sources
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Heroes of Our Time (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Hindolveston Village (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph Norfolk (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.
Suggest a correction or addition