Memorial plaque unveiled at Wolfson College

The plaque, situated on the north wall of the new academic building, honours those killed in the accident: Pilot Officer Charles Small, aged 23, Pilot Officer William Halley, aged 19, Sergeant John Mochan, aged 20, and Frances Hitchcox, a local resident.

Mrs Ann Spokes Symonds, a local historian, and Dr Roger Tomlin, Wolfson Emeritus Fellow, were the driving force behind this event. Mrs Spokes Symonds has extensively researched the crash, and, with the help of College archivist Liz Baird, put together a fascinating display of news articles and eye-witness reports for the interest of the attendees.

The plaque was unveiled by Professor Dame Hermione Lee, the College President. Reflecting on the tragic nature of the incident, she also highlighted the various ways in which the crash spurred those with connections to Wolfson on in their scientific endeavours. Sir Peter Medwar's attempts to treat one of the victims of the crash with skin grafts inspired his later pioneering research into transplant surgery. This in turn influenced the work of Wolfson Governing Body Fellow and immunologist, Professor Jon Austyn.

The President said that “it is a tribute to those three young men serving in the RAF, and to the woman who lived and worked here, that so many people with connections to, and a historical interest, in the air-crash, are here today.”      

The Bursar, Mr Ed Jarron, also gave a speech where he drew on his experiences as a bomber pilot to give the attendees an insight into the challenges faced by the aircraft crew. He explained how the Whitely V aircraft “was not one of the Air Force's greatest aircraft”, largely due to issues with the wing design. The aircraft took off from RAF Abingdon, which was hazardously close to the high ground of Boar's Hill. Mr Jarron explained how “something like 180 aircrew lost their lives while serving at Abingdon and of these, 70 were in the fields around the base. Indeed some seven aircraft were lost in the immediate Oxford area.”   

Mr Jarron echoed the sentiments of all who attended in his final words: This was “a truly tragic accident. And I hope that you will agree with us that this small piece of WWII history should be commemorated in perpetuity by means of the plaque we are about to unveil.”

Report by Oxford Mail