AUBREY GERALD CROWE 

Born 17 November 1911, at Hartford, Cheshire. Aubrey married Margaret Clarke in the third quarter of 1937, the set-up home at 5, Fern Cliff, Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire.

Their son Peter Gerald was born, 24 March 1939. In 1939 Aubrey was employed in drapery dispatch.

He was stationed at Ashbourne, Derbyshire, the 42nd, Operational Training Unit. With less than two months before the planned D. Day the five crew members were training in the new Albemarle bomber, which was planned to take part in the campaign. The twin engine bomber with a wing span of 77 feet would tow gliders.

On a training operation on Saturday, 15 April 1944, which involved flying from RAF Ashbourne, Derbyshire, to RAF Tilstone, near Whitchurch, Shropshire, a journey of about 40 miles that would take less than 20 minutes in the Albemarle cruising at 170 miles per hour, they actually flew to Hartford, Cheshire, 20 miles north of the direct flight path. According the the Air Gunner, Ewen who survived the crash they had disobeyed orders and flown to Hartford to “ shoot up” the house occupied by Crowe’s wife. According to eyewitnesses the plane made two low passes over Hartford then on their third pass even lower than the first two the wing of the Albemarle hit the chimney of one of the houses and crashed killing 4 of the five crew. Air Gunner Ewen was thrown clear in his turret and survived the crash.



Researched by H.A.G. Carlisle.( updated by Steve Merrill December 2025)