Died following the tragic mid air collision above Blackpool’s Central Railway station 2th August 1941. A transcript from Lancashire Aircraft Investigation Team website can be found in our archive, provides an account of the events that occurred that day.

This incident has the distinction of being seen by thousands of eye-witnesses but photographs taken on the day were censored by the wartime censor.

Blackpool was home to thousands of servicemen. It was the largest RAF training centre, headquarters of the Polish Air Force and home to hundreds of soldiers, sailors and airmen displaced from occupied countries in Europe.

On this particular afternoon, four 256 Squadron Defiants’ took off from Squires Gate to practice formation flying. It would seem that a mock attack formation took place, as two of the Defiants’ successfully manoeuvred their attack on the Botha, the third Defiant was countered by the Botha which suddenly banked to the right which led to the collision in mid-air, cutting it in two. The Botha stalled and immediately spiral dived and seconds later it crashed through the roof of the entrance hall to the Central Station, showering aviation fuel over the platforms below, which alighted.

It is not difficult to image the horror that ensued, several people were killed instantly and some were very badly burned and subsequently dying from their injuries.

John Sheldon was killed outright in the station and his wife Jennie Sheldon of Scholes, Cleckheaton who died on the 25th September learnt of his death from an aunt just prior to her own death. Both are buried in our churchyard.

18 people died instantly, 39 others were injured of which 27 were hospitalised, 5 later died of their injuries.

Also in this plot, are Albert Whitehead buried 07/05/1908 of New Road, Dobcross and Eliza Ann Whitehead buried 02/11/1932