Residents are being invited to come together on Armed Forces Day, Saturday 27 June 2026 at 1pm, for the unveiling of a memorial plaque honouring the seven airmen who died when a Short Stirling III bomber crashed between Eldon and Shildon in 1944.
The event, held at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, will give the public the chance to pay tribute, learn about a remarkable piece of local history, and ensure the story of the crew of LK517 continues to be remembered.
A Tragedy That Shaped Local Memory
On 31 May 1944, the Short Stirling III — registration LK517 of 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit — took off from RAF Wigsley for a training flight. Severe storm clouds were forming over the Pennines, and at around 4.45pm witnesses heard the aircraft in distress before it broke up in cloud and crashed into farmland behind west Thickley farm.
All seven crew members were killed:
- Pilot Officer Stanley Wilson
- Flying Officer John Brooks
- Sergeant Donald Curtis
- Sergeant Nathaniel Crawford
- Sergeant Fred Bates
- Sergeant Walter Lawton
- Sergeant Thomas Parr
Their loss left a deep mark on the communities of Shildon and Middridge, with many residents still recalling the stories passed down through their families.
A Plaque Lost — and Found Again
Most of the men are buried in their local Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries, with Pilot Officer Wilson laid to rest in Newcastle upon Tyne. For many years, the crew were commemorated in Shildon by a seat at the Cricket Club on Hackworth Road, but as upkeep became difficult the seat eventually disappeared.
The original plaque was later rediscovered — tucked away in a drawer at the Cricket Club — long after the memorial seat itself had gone.
Now, after years out of public view, a new plaque has been cast using money raised by individual subscriptions and a ‘bomber night’ in the Railway Institute amounting to £954. The memorial plaque will take pride of place at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, near to the crash site where residents and visitors will be able to see it every day.
Organisers hope that holding the unveiling on Armed Forces Day will give people the chance to reflect not only on the crew of LK517, but on the service and sacrifice of all who have worn the uniform.
“This story has lived in our community for generations,” organisers said. “By bringing the plaque back into public view, we’re making sure it isn’t forgotten — and we’d love as many people as possible to join us for the unveiling.”
Event Details
Where: Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon
Date: Saturday 27 June 2026 at 1pm
All welcome — veterans, families, residents, and visitors
The unveiling will include a short reflection, the reading of the crew’s names, and an opportunity for people to view the plaque up close.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
