THE nephew of a pilot killed during the Second World War was honoured to visit the site where his uncle died over 70 years ago, near Bude, writes Rosie Cripps.

On Monday, September 17, Odie Waters and his wife Melinda visited Stowe Barton Farm, Kilkhampton, in order to pay their respects at the nearby crash site of a Bristol Beaufighter — which killed Odie’s uncle, pilot Jack Warburton, and his navigator, Teddy Sillitoe.

The crash happened on January 17, 1943, during thick fog, killing two occupants — 21-year-old pilot John ‘Jack’ Warburton and navigator Ewen Edward ‘Teddy’ Sillitoe of the 235 Squadron.

The 235 Squadron were based at Chivenor, North Devon, from July 1942 to January 1943. Jack and Teddy’s plane was the Bristol Beaufighter T5322, an offensive night fighter whose role was to fly over the Bay of Biscay looking for enemy aircraft.

On January 17, 1943, four aircraft had taken off, but due to bad weather they turned back. Regrettably Jack got separated from the rest of the crews and in virtually zero visibility crashed into high ground at Stowe Barton, Kilkhampton, on the way back to Chivenor.

It is thought that Jack, just 21-years-old at the time, was flying the Bristol Beaufighter when the plane clipped the top of a hedge at Stowe Barton Farm, crashing not far from where it the machine was first hit.

The crash instantly killed Jack and navigator Teddy, a 22 or 23-year-old from Leeds.

During the visit, Odie and Melinda went along with the Cook brothers, John and Mike, who were but boys at the time, and whose father Sam Cook helped with the recovery of the plane, being a workman at the farm and a member of the Home Guard.

John Cook, the eldest son of Sam Cook, shared what he could remember of the day. He was just 11-years-old at the time of the crash, while his younger brother Mike was around eight or nine.

“We heard the plane come down, on a Sunday, at what must have been around lunchtime — or dinnertime, as we would have called it back then. My father worked on the farm, and was involved in retrieving the two pilots from the plane, which I imagine was not a very nice thing to see or do.”

John didn’t find out too many details from his father, but remembered the day fairly well.

He continued: “It was a very foggy day. Being children, my brother and I weren’t allowed to go near the plane where it had crashed. But my father was involved in whatever he had to do, I suppose. He was in a position where, because he worked at the farm, he and some other workmen had to go along and help recover it.

“My father was a man of few words, and he didn’t speak to us about the crash because it’s not a very nice thing to talk about, especially in front of children. But we heard the plane flying over, that’s for certain. When I was a lad, I was always interested in planes, but in this case, we were not allowed to go down there.”

Jack’s sister and Odie’s mother, now 96, was working near Chivenor and later met and married an American GI. Their family now lives in Texas, USA.

The trip first came to fruition after local historian Graham Moore began his extensive research into the crash and made contact with the relatives of the pilots.

Odie then decided to plan a trip for 2018 to pay his respects to his uncle, and even visit the site of his grave.

He said: “We’ve enjoyed our time here immensely — the people have been wonderful, and the weather mostly cooperative. I would have loved to have brought my mother, but she is 96 and has dementia, so it was simply not possible.”

Odie described the sensation he felt when he finally took the steps towards the site of the crash, which killed his uncle 75 years ago, as ‘gut wrenching’.

“It was gut-wrenching, somewhat saddening, but yet providing a measure of peace being able to finally put the pieces together. My sincere appreciation to the Cook brothers, John and Mike, for sharing what they remember and have been told by their father, Sam, who pulled Sgt Pilot J C ‘Jack’ Warburton and Sgt Navigator E E ‘Teddy’ Sillitoe from the wreckage.”

Having now visited the site, Odie would like to work with the National Trust and local parish council to have a memorial placed at the road in front of Stowe Barton Farm, much like there are at many other crash sites in Britain.

As well as visiting the site of the crash, Odie and his wife Melinda have been to visit the places in Devon where his father, an American GI, was posted and where his parents first met.

“Ours is a two-part story,” Odie continued. “As well as my mother’s only brother being killed here, my father was with the US Army here from 1943 to 1944, training for D-Day.

“He met my mother in Braunton, they were married there in January 1944. So we have also been to see the training areas at Saunton Sands and Woolacombe beach. My father went on to land at Omaha beach, fought at the Ardennes, and was part of the Luxembourg Liberation Force. My mother joined him in America in May 1946.”

Odie added: “It’s been an honour and a privilege. Jack is buried at Heanton Punchardon churchyard, so in addition to visiting the crash site at Stowe Barton, we have been up to his grave and laid a wreath.

“It was sad to see all the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones there, all these young boys lost protecting our freedoms and way of life.”