Morris Farmhouse, which stood just east of Foxelwood opposite Westwick Farm, was demolished during the second world war after its top was taken off by an aeroplane. Mr and Mrs Fred Morris were downstairs when the plane hit, and were unhurt. The aeroplane also demolished a circular dovecote that lay behind the farmhouse.
The aeroplane in question was Short Stirling MG-V of 7 Squadron that had just taken off from RAF Oakington for a bombing raid on Kiel on the night of 15th November 1941. The aircraft, which was loaded with bombs, fuel and ammunition, had difficulties taking off and was “bogged down” on the airfield. (This may have been due the often-poor and muddy condition of Oakington’s grass runways, which in the earlier years of the war often made take-off and landing difficult. Installation of concrete runways began in September 1941, but was not completed until around June 1942). The ground crew did eventually manage to get the plane airborne, but it crashed very soon afterwards having failed to gain enough height to clear the house. Following the crash, the plane came to rest in a field and burst into flames. Mr Frederick Bertram Pearson, farmer of Westwick Farm, was first on the scene and assisted in the rescue of some of the crew members despite bullets being set off by the heat and the risk of exploding bombs. The pilot, Sgt Bennett, was killed in the crash and Sgt Hunter the second pilot died in later hospital. The remainder of the crew, Stgs Topping, Ansell, Bentham, Hudson and Helliwell, survived the crash but all (apart from the Helliwell the engineer, who escaped relatively unscathed) required hospital treatment either at Addenbrookes or at RAF Oakington’s station sick quarters. Frederick Pearson received a British Empire Medal for his part in the rescue, as well as a letter of thanks from station commander at RAF Oakington. Two horticultural workers from Oakington, Wilfrid Brickwood and Edward Smith, who also took part in the rescue, received commendations.
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