WW2 Air Crash Detectives

Garth Barnard examines the Turweston Wellington Collision that occurred on 8 July 1944. The incident involved two bombers colliding, resulting in the deaths of 13 soldiers, a tragedy that happened before they had even entered their war in combat.

Death in the Moonlight: Turweston Wellington Collision is presented as a programme episode. The title signals a focus on a specific wartime incident, and the format places it within the broader series of broadcast pieces that examine historical events. Delivered in a concise format, the episode provides a focused look, delivering a self‑contained narrative centred on a single occurrence. The central narrative follows investigator Garth Barnard as he looks into the Turweston Wellington Collision that took place on 8 July 1944. In that accident two Wellington bombers struck one another, resulting in the deaths of thirteen soldiers. The tragedy occurred before the men had even begun their wartime service. Barnard’s inquiry forms the backbone of the episode, guiding viewers through the circumstances surrounding the mid‑summer crash. By tracing the sequence of events that led the two aircraft to converge, the programme outlines how the loss unfolded, emphasizing the suddenness of the incident and its impact on the young soldiers involved. The episode therefore combines factual recounting with a methodical investigation, offering a concise yet thorough account of the 1944 collision. Through Barnard’s perspective, the story highlights the human cost of a peacetime‑to‑war transition, underscoring how the soldiers’ lives were cut short before they could even commence their duties.