- Contributed by听
- Glenn Miller Festival 2004
- People in story:听
- Shaun Starkey
- Location of story:听
- Rothwell
- Background to story:听
- Royal Air Force
- Article ID:听
- A2997381
- Contributed on:听
- 13 September 2004
My father was in the 鈥淏lack Liberators鈥 at Harrington Aerodrome. They were part of the OSS, dropping agents over enemy lines in Europe. The work was obviously top secret. My father was one of the ground staff, not being able to go into the services because of perforated ear-drums. A lot of the people involved were his friends, and he had to see them go out and wait to see if they came back or not.
A Heinkel came down above Rothwell Cemetery (near the A14) and Mr Guildford from the farm tried to get the crew out with an axe as it was burning, but they couldn鈥檛. The crew were buried at first at Rothwell Cemetery. The pilot鈥檚 name on the grave was Gunter F Shrober, I remember seeing it on my walks as a child. I went back years later, but the bodies had been taken to a German Military Cemetery. When my father was cycling home one night he could see Coventry burning as though it was only in the next field.
In the field before Harrington Church there is a Spitfire with a Polish pilot, deep in the ground. It was apparently hit by lightening and went so deep into the ground that it was never recovered. We used to pass this most Sundays as Dad always took us on a morning walk.
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