On 11 Feb 1945 an American C-47 Skytrain (Dakota) crashed into Burton Down. She had seven men on board: the crew of three and four USAAF personnel passengers, all aged between 22 and 32. They were en route to the American Air Base in Berkshire carrying mail and freight from Istres/ France. A local search party of valley men found the completely disintegrated wreckage scattered between West Wood and Burton Down. Visibility at the time was 25 yards.
Almost exactly a year previously, on 13 Feb 1944, a Lancaster Bomber from 617 Squadron of the RAF (the "Dambuster Squadron") with a crew of eight had crashed into the Downs above Upwaltham on its way home from a raid on the Antheor viaduct in Southern France in thick mist and low cloud. The international crew of the Lancaster were aged between 20 and 52 and were members of The Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Air Force & Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Four farm workers from nearby Littleton Farm heard the crash and went to help. Only the pilot was pulled from the burning wreckage alive, but later died. The workers were commended by King George V for bravery.
Tragically all these airmen died not by enemy action but on friendly soil due to human error and in adverse weather conditions.
The parishioners of Upwaltham and St. Mary-the-Virgin have done extensive research on this event and the airmen who died on the hills above the village and published their findings in a little guide booklet that can be purchased in the church.
In 2009 the descendants of the war-time villagers together with representatives from the White House and descendants of the airmen unveiled a plaque in the little Shepherd's Church in the valley that has been serving the community for almost 1000 years. It commemorates the airmen of both Lancaster and Dakota. They also erected memorials near both crash sites. An unusual Flag flies from the flagpole in the churchyard: its quarters are made up of the flags of the four home nations of the men who died: UK, USA, Australia and Canada.
The cache has been hidden near the crash site by 1st South Bersted Air Scouts who held a camp in mist and rain to commemorate these war-time events near the anniversary of the crashes. They were honoured to take part in the annual Memorial Service in the church in February, and to parade the flags including the Standard of 617 Squadron and the US Flag.
It is recommended that you make the ascent from Littleton Farm as this would be very near the experience the original witnesses would have had. It is a steep ascent. There is no parking at the farm track though, and it might be easier to park at the church and take a round trip taking in the Lancaster cache as well. Alternatively, there is a public car park at Bignor Hill. In February the cloud base tends to be very low indeed, and visibility can be as little as 10feet. At other times of year there are glorious views of the South Downs. Walkers and villagers who pass the memorial have started to build a cairn next to it with flints from the field, and you are encouraged to add another. Please note that the cache is NOT hidden inside the cairn.