Fund lays wreath to commemorate Llandow air disaster 75 years on

On 9 March, a commemoration ceremony was held in memory of the 75th anniversary of the largest civil air disaster in Wales, with a wreath laid by Ambassador Rob Bugden on behalf of the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Wednesday 12 March marked 75 years since the air accident where 80 people were killed flying home from an Ireland vs Wales Five Nations rugby match.

The aircraft crashed in the village of Sigingstone on approach into former RAF Llandow, in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales.

Among those killed was Squadron Leader Bill Irving DFC OC 614 Squadron who was on board the aircraft having watched the match. The RAF was heavily involved in the immediate aftermath of the operation with personnel helping to clear debris and damage, bring bodies out of the fuselage, taking the bodies to the hospital at RAF St Athan where they also comforted families. 

Current members of 614 squadron were in attendance, as were the three rugby clubs directly affected by this tragedy. Air Commodore Rob Woods (Air Officer for Wales) laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Air Force. There was also a fly past to mark the occasion by the University of Wales Air Squadron (UWAS).

Fund Ambassador and RAF veteran Rob Bugden, from the village of Sigingstone attended the ceremony. He said: “Being from a small community, this tragic accident is not widely known but is prevalent to those impacted. It’s been poignant to speak to some of the relatives of people who sadly died in the accident at the ceremony. I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the RAF Benevolent Fund in my home village.”