Peak Experience

You can visit a memorial to eight brave airmen in Grindon church just north of the village.  They died in a mercy flight to the village during the bleak winter of 1947.

 

It was one of the worst winters on record.  Roads were blocked and people struggled to find food to eat.  The bomber crews of RAF Fairford were recruited to drop food for the stranded villagers.  The RAF made a survey flight and planned a route to fly in at 800 feet (240 metres), appreciating there would be hazardous weather.  The villagers were to mark the drop-spot at the top of Grindon Moor with a large black cross.

 

Sometime previously a Halifax had successfully dropped 20,000 lb (9,000 kg) of food for Longor residents. Squadron Leader McIntyre would lead the Grindon drop on 13 February at 8.45 a.m.  The other crew members were a Flight Lieutenant, two Warrant Officers and a Flight Sergeant, all with plenty of flying experience.  Sergeant William Sherry, an ex-army glider pilot, travelled as an observer along with two press photographers.

 

When they arrived at Grindon Moor there was a small crowd waiting to welcome them, including another photographer, Mr Strasser from Newcastle.  The pictures he took before laying his camera aside to help with the rescue work were not the type he was hoping to take.

 

When the plane left Fairford the weather was quite good, but two hours later on arrival at Grindon Moor they could not see the aiming point.  After a couple of trial runs to get a sight of the area the aircraft made a third run, but crashed and exploded.  All eight occupants died.

 

Ironically, later that day the villagers heard that the road to Leek was now open and food would be arriving the following day by road.  There were no more mercy flights.

 

Public transport information for all locations can be found by calling Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

To plan your journey to Grindon, visit the Staffordshire journey planner.