Routes

Route planner

Features

Product updates

Get the App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Doncaster

Hatfield

Wellington W5557 Crash Memorial, Hatfield Moors

Discover
Places to see

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

Doncaster

Hatfield

Wellington W5557 Crash Memorial, Hatfield Moors

Wellington W5557 Crash Memorial, Hatfield Moors

Recommended by 1 hikers

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Best Hikes to Wellington W5557 Crash Memorial, Hatfield Moors

    16

    hikers

    1. Hiking loop from Hatfield Woodhouse

    7.75km

    01:57

    10m

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Easy

    Tips

    August 4, 2025

    📍Crash of Wellington W5557 with six Polish airmen of 305 Squadron (305 Dywizjon) in 1941

    Having been to the remains of RAF Lindholme I received a message regarding a memorial to a crashed polish aircraft. I've heard tales of a plane on Hatfield Moors that was visible when the peat bogs were low. Today I went out to find the memorial

    🛩️ On the night of 26th / 27th September 1941, the crew of this 305 Squadron aircraft undertook an operational flight to bomb Cologne and took off from base at Lindholme at 19:27hrs. All appears to have gone without incident outbound and over the target area. Fog was over Lindholme during the early hours of 27th September 1941, and while it was clear air above 500 feet, fog was seriously affecting visibility below. Added to that, other aircraft that were returning to Lindholme were short on fuel, so there was a possibility that Wellington W5557 may also have been low on fuel or even run out of fuel. Having flown back into the general area of Lindholme airfield, the crew lowered their undercarriage and were making an approach to land when it was thought that the pilot either misjudged the height the aircraft was flying, or it had run out of fuel and the pilot was attempting a forced landing. The aircraft struck trees and then crashed on Hatfield Moor, just short of the airfield at 01:30hrs. Sadly, three members of the Polish crew were killed in the crash, and a fourth died just over twenty-four hours later in Hospital in Doncaster Hospital.

    The body found in 1987 cannot have been part of the W5557 crew, as in the casualty file (AIR81/9282), it states they were all buried on the 30th September 1941, and no one was missing - Source (Yorkshire Aircraft)

    Pilot

    Sgt Eugeniusz Buszko (aged 27)

    Killed on impact


    Wireless Operator

    Sgt Jerzy Sławomir Leyche (aged 23)

    Killed on impact


    Air Gunner

    Sgt Wiktor Wasilenko (aged 18)

    Killed on impact


    Second Pilot

    Sgt Tadeusz Korczyk (aged 27)

    Died of injuries


    Navigator

    FL/t Stanisław Barzdo

    Injured - Later killed in action in Germany May 1942 (aged 26).


    Air Gunner

    Sgt Zdzisław Pisarek

    Injured - Passed away in Pennsylvania (aged 74).


    Rest easy gentlemen

      In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

      Sign up for free

      Details

      Informations

      Elevation 50 m

      Weather

      Powered by AerisWeather

      Today

      Monday 22 September

      14°C

      6°C

      0 %

      If you start your activity now...

      Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

      Loading

      Location: Hatfield, Doncaster, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

      Other Popular Places to Check Out

      Explore
      RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
      Download the app
      Follow Us on Socials

      © komoot GmbH

      Privacy Policy