de Havilland Mosquito
RAF Serial: KB224
1655 Mosquito Training Unit
Pilot: Flt/Lt. J. M. Pearce (killed)
Navigator: P/O. A. A. Young (killed)
Date: 19th August 1944
Place: Leebotwood, Shropshire

A recovery of a Mosquito in rural Shropshire almost certainly found more than the team had bargained for…

Mosquito KB224 was one of 200 Mk XX Mosquitos delivered between March and July 1944 by DH Canada, Downsview. It was attached to the 1655 Mosquito Training Unit when its pilot got into difficulties and lost control in turbulence; the aircraft ‘bunted’ and a wing became detached. It crashed at Leebotwood, Shropshire, on 19 August 1944.

Flight Lieutenant J. M. Pearce and Pilot Officer A. A. Young were both killed in the accident.

What started as a regular excavation turned into a five day media event when a distinctly ‘non-airframe’ item emerged from the side of the hole.

It was decided that the safest thing to do was to blow it up on site after evacuating a 1500 meter safety zone.