The Bombers in the Marsh - Warton near Preston, Lancashire (S12E03)

On November 29, 1944, two US Douglas A-26 Invader bombers tragically crashed in Warton Marsh shortly after taking off from Warton Airbase. The planes were flying in formation, heading to join the preparations for the Battle of the Bulge. Just a minute after departure and at an altitude of 1,000 feet, they collided and fell into the marsh, resulting in the loss of all crew members. Although their bodies were recovered, the investigation into the crash's causes yielded no definitive answers. For this episode, Time Team brought in a seasoned air crash investigator, the RAF’s 'crash and smash' team, and other specialists to uncover the reasons behind the collision, hoping the relatively intact wreckage would provide crucial insights.