Robert John's Story.
Robert John Bell was born in Romford Essex in 1924 to parents John and Alice. He trained as a navigator with the RAF and at the time of his death he was posted to 22 Aircrew Holding Unit at RAF Kirkham awaiting posting to an operational unit.The Accident
At 10:30 a.m on 23rd August 1944 the control tower at Warton airfield ( The USAAF Base Air Depot 2 or BAD-2, a repair and maintenance facility) cleared two repaired B-24s for takeoff on a test flight. Bloemendal, a veteran test pilot, flew the B-24, Classy Chassis II, and First Lieutenant Peter Manassero commanded the second aircraft. Upon warning of the approaching thunderstorm, the control tower recalled the planes. Amid the storm, Bloemendal attempted to land the Classy Chassis II at Warton airfield. Manassero decided not to land his B-24 and instead flew northward to escape the storm. As Bloemendal continued his approach to the runway at Warton, he realized the hopelessness of a successful landing at the field. He attempted to retract his landing gear and fly around the airfield to follow Manassero's path out of the storm. As Bloemendal struggled to bank his turn, he lost control of the aircraft. At 25 tons, with more than 2,700 gallons of fuel onboard, the plane crashed into the village of Freckleton. Along its downward path, the Classy Chassis II clipped the tops of trees and demolished three houses and the Sad Sack Café. The B-24 then cartwheeled, and slid into the infants' wing of Holy Trinity School. The entire area erupted as the aviation fuel ignited, engulfing the building, teachers, and students. The impact of the crash immediately killed Bloemendal and his crew of two. The final death toll from the crash was sixty-one, including thirty-eight children. Robert was sitting in the Sad Sack Snack Bar at the time of the incident and was severely injured. He died of his injuries on 24 August 1944.
News article
Freckleton postcard showing key locations related to the accident.
USAAF Commander's message
Freckleton Memorial
Crash site
Plane wreckage at site