Lancaster I W4270, which had a flight history of 196 hours, was returning to base at RAF Syreston after a long cross country training flight. They had been diverted to Bottesford when a con rod on the inner starboard engine snapped causing a fire which the crew was unable to extinguish. It came down four miles south east of Syreston a mile from St Mary's Church Staunton in the Vale. There were no survivors.

The crash had faded from local memory until retired farmer Sid Baggaley, who had witnessed the events as young man, told the story to a friend. Mr Baggaley had mistakenly believed for many years that the crash involved a Wellington Bomber rather than a much larger, four engine Lancaster with seven men aboard.