The 85th Anniversary of the Loss of Hampden X3023
Eighty five years have passed since the early morning peace in a north Norfolk village was shattered by the crash of a Handley Page Hampden bomber of 44 Squadron, based at RAF Waddington. In the woods of Northrepps, close to a Grade Two listed shooting lodge called Templewood, there is a simple memorial paying tribute to the Hampden crew that crashed there at 0620 hours on 20th November 1940. Of the four crew members onboard, three died on impact; the fourth survived to continue serving in the RAF.
The crash site memorial
The aircraft, which had sustained severe damage, was returning from a bombing mission on one engine and in atrocious weather. The pilot, Sgt Jack Ottaway, demonstrated exemplary airmanship and great courage in nursing his crippled aircraft back across the North Sea, trading height for speed, but eventually control was lost shortly after crossing the Norfolk coast. Sgt Ottaway was killed in the crash, as were his navigator, Plt Off Archie Kerr and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Stanley Elliott. Sgt Stanley Hird, the fourth crew member, survived the impact and went on to serve until the end of the war and was subsequently awarded the DFC.
A Hampden crew post-flight
A memorial plaque for the airmen was installed on a tree stump at the site of the crash and a wreath-laying ceremony was held there on 20th November 2025. The Commemoration was supported by members of the Royal British Legion, the RAF Association and Cromer Air Cadets. Also in attendance were the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Cromer, the Chairman of North Norfolk District Council and the granddaughters of the pilot Jack Ottaway.
View of the Pilot's Cockpit in a Hampden
