Photo: B. Chandler
The headstone reads:
In
Loving memory
of
Thomas William (Sergt. R.A.F.)
Beloved husband of
Ann Lightley
Died on active service
Sept. 27th 1944 aged 33 years.
Simon Glancey has submitted the following:
Sgt Lightley was killed when Short Stirling I LK453 of 1654 H.C.U. (Heavy Conversion Unit) crashed after returning from a night bombing practice exercise at R.A.F. Wigsley. The Stirling was circling the airfield waiting for visibility to improve when it went out of control and crashed at 01.10 about 1 mile north of the airfield, killing all seven crew.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses: Vol. 8; Heavy Conversion Units and Miscellaneous Units, 1939-1947; W.R. Chorley; 2003; Midland Publishing; ISBN 1 85780 156 3, page 138.
He is remembered in Ashington on A17.43
