George Stansall

16 March 1944 Lockheed P-38 Lightning 42-68019 piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Robert L Wells of the 77th Fighter Sqn, 20th Fighter Group based at RAF Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire (assigned USAAF designation Station 367). Take off 11.10, initially climbing to 2500 ft on a local altitude test flight. After a while he continued to 25000 ft held this altitude then again climbed. During the climb the starboard engine failed and the aircraft yawed into the dead engine and rolled into a dive. Lt Wells estimated his speed to be approximately 600mph and at 28000 ft when he abandoned the aircraft which at that time had started to disintegrate. The aircraft crashed inverted into Jasmine Cottage Thorpe, injuring its occupants. Tenants Mr George and Mrs Annie Dannatt and owner, bricklayer George Stansall, 62, who had been repairing a window. The property was burnt down, Mr George Stansall's death the following day was due to heart failure caused by extensive burns sustained when the plane crashed into the house and he was buried under the rubble. George is not recorded as a civilian casualty by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

2nd Lieutenant Robert L Wells of Hamilton, Ohio, USA - baled out at high speed and was subsequently badly injured. Robert Flint who lived in the cottages at Farndon next to Hardy Farm was home on leave from the RAF. He saw the Lightning fighter crash, from across the fields about 400 yards away and saw the pilot come parachuting down. When Flint got to him he was on the ground with a broken leg, he stayed with him till the emergency services came and took him to Newark hospital. 2nd Lt Wells survived to attend the inquest.