RAF Bomber A W Whitley Z6639 and Crew
4.9 miles away
Hereford And Worcester
Honeybourne area Whitley Memorial
Honeybourne area, Warwickshire
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
It is maintained by Honeybourne Parish Council.
Type
Rough hewn stone of remembrance with plaque
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Honeybourne area, Warwickshire, Warwickshire
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What Happened
On 2 June 1943, Whitley Z2639 from No. 24 Operational Training Unit, based at RAF Honeybourne, came down in the Honeybourne area of Warwickshire. The aircraft was crewed by trainee airmen undergoing operational preparation at the unit. Pilot Morrisson was among those aboard, as was airman Selwyn Henry Alcock. The cause of the crash is not recorded in available sources. All crew members were killed.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Conversion course from Hampden to Whitley(April 1942)
12 pupils, presumably newly screened instructors
Courses progressing(December 1943)
22 pilots, 20 navigators, 20 bomb aimers, 22 WO/AGs, 46 A/Gs posted
Airfield Opening(3rd of December 1940)
RAF Honeybourne opened for training Canadian pilots.
Aircraft Lost(17th Nov 1944)
An aircraft was lost on this date, but the specific details are not provided in the text.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Whitley
Serial Number
Z2639
Squadron
24 OTU
Station
RAF Honeybourne
Date of Loss
1943-06-02
Crew (4 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Honeybourne Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Warwick Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Honeybourne Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
Traces of WarRetrieved 2026-03-23
Traces of War documents a memorial at Broadway, Worcestershire to a Whitley bomber from 24 OTU that crashed on 2 June 1943 at 14:15 hours during operational training. Five crew members were killed: Flt/Sgt H.G. Hagen (pilot), Sgt R.S. Phillips (navigator), Flt/Sgt D.H. Kelly, Sgt D.A. Marriott, and Sgt G.E. Ekins.
What you'll find: Poignant memorial honoring five fallen Whitley bomber crew members in Honeybourne area.
Crash time recorded as 14:15 hoursFive crew killedMemorial located at Broadway, Worcestershire
Wartime Memories ProjectRetrieved 2026-03-23
The Wartime Memories Project documents RAF Honeybourne as the base for No. 24 OTU during WW2. The unit used Whitley bombers for training and suffered numerous losses in the surrounding countryside, including the Z2639 incident.
What you'll find: WWII history of RAF Honeybourne's No. 24 OTU at Whitley Memorial via Wartime Memories Project.
RAF Honeybourne documented as 24 OTU baseMultiple training losses recorded in area
Aviation ArchaeologyRetrieved 2026-03-23
Comprehensive record of personnel losses from No. 24 Operational Training Unit at Honeybourne, documenting the high attrition rate among training crews flying aging Whitley bombers in the Worcestershire and Warwickshire area.
What you'll find: Comprehensive records of personnel losses from No. 24 Operational Training Unit at Honeybourne area Whitley Memorial.
Comprehensive personnel loss record for 24 OTUHigh training attrition documented
Nearby Memorials
St Egwin's Church, Norton and Lenchwick - WW2 Wellington Memorial
5.1 miles away
Worcestershire
(Location via IWM) (WW2) Memorial
8.0 miles away
Wiltshire
Chipping Norton - Oxford and Wellington Crews - WW2
16.0 miles away
Oxfordshire
Great Rissington (Lamb Inn) Wellington Memorial
17.4 miles away
Gloucestershire
Sources
Traces of War (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Wartime Memories Project (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Archaeology (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IWM (memorial/36469) (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21
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