Tribute for airmen whose plane crashed in 1945

The crew of an RAF bomber aircraft which crashed into the Humber Estuary during World War Two have been honoured at a ceremony today.

The Avro Lancaster set off on a routine training flight on 4 January 1945 from RAF Elsham Wolds, but hit a sudden blizzard and ditched into the river 16 minutes later, killing the six airmen on board.

On Saturday, The Last Post was played and a wreath laid at Victoria Pier in Hull to mark the exact date and time of the plane's loss.

The wreckage and the crew's final resting place are in the Humber close to the city's port.

A lone bagpiper played Highland Cathedral in honour of the airmen, who belonged to 103 Squadron.

Although some wreckage and papers were recovered from the estuary during a search, the bodies of the men were never found.

The pilot was Acting Flying Officer Christopher Weight, 31, and with him were George Widdicombe, 32, Henry Backway, 21, Clifford Hillier, 20, Cyril Lloyd, 19, and Maurice Pickersgill, 21.

A seventh member of the Lancaster's usual crew, a gunner sergeant, did not take part in the mission that day.

The International Bomber Command Centre is leading an initiative to create a memorial as a lasting tribute.

A national competition has been launched to design the memorial and will be judged on 8 May as part of the national VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations.

Nicky van der Drift OBE, CEO of International Bomber Command Centre said: "This memorial will ensure these six brave airmen - forever part of our shared history - are remembered for their ultimate sacrifice."

The RAF base at Elsham Wolds, near Scunthorpe, lost 208 Lancaster bombers during the war.

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