Second Lieutenant Kenneth Wastell
Second Lieutenant Kenneth Wastell
Second Lieutenant Kenneth Wastell was a member of the Royal Flying Corps, 5 Training Squadron. He crashed into the steeple of the St Ives All Saints Parish Church, after getting lost in the fog. He was killed instantly.
One evening in March 1918, Second Lieutenant Kenneth Wastell landed his De Havilland DH6 aircraft in Hemingford Meadow to ask for directions. After being given directions, he turned the plane around, took off and crashed into the Spire of The St Ives All Saints Parish Church. An enquiry found that the fog and blind spots caused by the biplane’s wings were contributory factors in the cause of the crash.
He is buried and commemorated in grave reference VVV.38.
St Ives Parish Church 1918 after the plane crashed into the spire.
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