To Salute Two Brave Airmen

Brothers Johnny and Geoffrey Crellin are standing on the spot where, 73 years ago today, an aircraft called a Fairey Battle crashed. Johnny had been in the lane nearby and for a moment had thought the aircraft was going to hit him.

Johnny ran to the crash site, but there was nothing he could do to assist the aviators, who had perished.

The airmen were:- Pilot, Airman Stanislaw OSMALA (Polish Forces)
Drogue Operator, A.C.2 Arthur SHARP (R.A.F. (V.R.))

Geoffrey arrived at the scene shortly afterwards.

The Fairey Battle aircraft (L5671) which had been built by Austin Motors at Longbridge was employed on drogue towing duties that day. This is where the aircraft towed a kite-like object made of canvas on the end of a long cable. The drogue was used for target practice by the trainee gunners at the Gunnery School at Jurby.

The aircraft would have dropped the drogue at Hall Caine Aerodrome nearby prior to landing. Something went wrong and the engine did not respond and the aircraft stalled.

Immediately after the accident Geoffrey recalls an old Manx farmer on a bicycle pedalling frantically away from the scene shouting to him in a strong Manx accent:-

"There's a terrible devastation down there boys"