With every new intake of RAF Air Cadets, 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron assigns our cadets with locating and researching a WW1 or WW2 casualty from their local area. The cadets are tasked with locating a Commonwealth War Grave or a wartime casualty and researching the subject as fully as possible. Upon completing the research, the cadets are asked to create a small presentation on their casualty using a slideshow format. Out of one of these sessions, now Corporal Bailea Harrison, chose a female Air Transport Auxiliary pilot, who died in July of 1944. The pilot, Flight Captain Eleanor Isabella ‘Susan’ Slade, was ferrying a Wellington bomber from the repair depot at RAF Little Rissington. Flt Cpt Slade was an accomplished pilot, with a wealth of flying and air racing experience. In her final moments, she was observed avoiding crashing onto the village of Great Rissington, which concluded in her crashing into an uninhabited farming field adjacent to the village. As ATA pilots often flew alone, irrespective of the size of the aircraft, she was the only casualty from the incident.
Flt Cpt Slade was buried in her hometown of Stokenchurch, at the request of her surviving family. Upon researching Flt Capt Slade’s story for her presentation, Cpl Harrison was surprised to discover that there was no mention of her at the church in Little Rissington, where a large amount of RAF personnel are buried and commemorated. No plaques, flyers or information sheets existed to remember her, despite the existence of flyers and commemorative plaques to male aviators that lost their lives operating out of RAF Little Rissington. This had an appreciable impact on Cpl Harrison, who felt obligated to rectify this oversight.
Flt Capt Slade was no ordinary women. She was a female pioneer of aviation. She was flying in and winning air races throughout the 1930s. She owned several aircraft and amassed over 500 flying hours across the UK and Europe, up until the breakout of the Second World War. She was one of the first group of women to serve in the ATA, beginning in 1940. She keenly volunteered to serve in a wartime capacity to ferry any manner of aircraft, often singlehandedly, and with significantly less experience on those specific aircraft than the regular pilots who flew them operationally.
ATA pilots were often commended for ferrying aircraft in poor weather and conditions that would ordinarily make experienced pilots wary. They flew everything from front line fighters, four-engined bombers and training aircraft after a quick browse through the flying notes. Often, they carried out these duties without radios and they were almost always unarmed. Despite the dangers, their job was an essential job; keeping the RAF and Fleet Air Arm supplied with replacement aircraft to continue the war effort, at maximum pace. Of these brave aircrews, 166 were women. By the conclusion of the Second World War, 15 of those women had died in incidents and accidents directly related to flying. Susan Slade was one of those fifteen who lost their lives in the defence of their nation. Honouring her was Cpl Harrison’s mission, even if it was just to give a detailed presentation in her memory.
In November of 2023, Cpl Harrison was attending a remembrance ceremony with the Chipping Norton Royal British Legion, laying crosses on the Commonwealth War Graves in Chipping Norton. During that event, Cpl Harrison discussed Flt Cpt Slade with Steve Kingsford, the RBL Chairman for the Chipping Norton branch. Mr. Kingsford is an avid historian who has researched many of the war graves in the area and has published books on the subject. After discussing Flt Cpt Slade, he requested that Cpl Harrison send him her presentation and that he would be willing to support a memorial project on or near the crash site. Mr. Kingsford was impressed with the detail of Cpl Harrison's presentation; finding facts that he had not known, previously. After several meetings on the subject, Mr. Kingsford tasked Cpl Harrison with trying to locate any surviving family. He also tasked her with trying to locate the exact crash site, to determine an appropriate place for a public memorial.
For the next several months, Cpl Harrison meticulously traced Flt Cpt Slade’s family tree, which was especially difficult as she did not have any children. Eventually she was able to make contact with several of Flt Cpt Slade’s relations. Collectively, the family were excited about the prospect of Susan being remembered on a memorial. One of the family members had also done a great deal of research on Susan, which further aided Cpl Harrison’s research.
In the Summer of 2024, Cpl Harrison managed to locate the original coroner’s report in the Gloucester Archives. The original report contained a wealth of hand-written statements, eye-witness accounts and investigation work to determine the cause of the crash. Although a problem with the elevator trim tabs was suspected, no clear cause was determined. Due to the damage to the aircraft and the resulting fire, it proved near-impossible to reach a conclusive cause. The most impactful statement in the coroner’s file was from Gloucestershire police Special Sergeant Sidney Taylor who was in the village of Great Rissington, at the time of the incident. He stated, “One aeroplane seemed to be much lower than the others and was heading towards the village of Great Rissington and in my opinion the Pilot would have crashed into the village had she not swerved into the field to avoid crashing on to the houses.” He was the only known eyewitness to the crash. The coronor’s report also named the exact location of the crash, which was in Whaddon Field, Glebe Farm. Despite looking at several tithe maps of the Great Rissington area while at the archives, Cpl Harrison was unable to locate one with the field names on it.
Over the next several weeks an appeal was raised on Facebook in the Great Rissington, Little Rissington and Upper Rissington community pages to locate anyone with knowledge of the exact location of Whaddon Field. After several replies, a local resident, Bill Lane, informed us of the exact location of the field. Upon comparing the location with the flight path details from the Coroner’s report, the field was at exactly 50 degree to the right of the runway centreline, just as described. Merging this information with the eyewitness accounts, Cpl Harrison was able to replicate the flight path of the Wellington bomber from take-off until it came to rest in Whaddon Field.
In October of 2024, the Upper Rissington Parish Council was approached regarding hosting the memorial, near the RAF Little Rissington airfield fence-line, overlooking Glebe Farm. After a brief presentation, the council unanimously voted to host the memorial, with a target date of Summer 2025 for the unveiling ceremony. This ceremony will be a celebration and recognition of Flt Cpt Slade’s life and sacrifice. Members of Susan’s family, 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron staff and cadets, various dignitaries, members of the Royal Air Force and the ATA Re-enactment Group plan to be in attendance, as well as members of the press. All residents are cordially invited to participate also. This will undoubtedly be a very successful event and will attract a good deal of positive attention to Upper Rissington and Susan’s story.
While this research was occurring, 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, began fundraising for the memorial. The squadron attended several events in Churchill, Chipping Norton and Milton-under-Wychwood, specifically to raise funds. As an all-volunteer organisation, all equipment, resources and funds come in the form of charitable donations only. So far, the squadron has raised just over £500 towards the memorial. We are launching this fundraising appeal for £2500 to assist with reaching our goal of £3000. This will cover the cost of the memorial, event planning and a fitting display at our squadron premises, honouring Flt Cpt Slade.
All funds raised will go directly to our Squadron bank account. Please give generously to help us make this memorial a permanent fixture in the community and a fitting tribute to an amazing lady.