For April’s HistoryFare talk, Sqn Ldr Dean ‘Gibbo’ Gibson will present a 45 mins briefing on his investigation into the RAF Fauld explosion and its aftermath.
RAF Fauld is a former munitions storage depot, located approximately 4 mls NW of Burton upon Trent.
With munition storage facilities above and below ground, it was the location of the 4th largest explosion of WWII, with only the explosions from the 3 atom bombs being larger.
The explosion happened at 271111Nov1944 and is often referred to as the ‘forgotten disaster’. Between 3500 and 4000 tons of ordnance exploded, mostly high explosives, creating a crater, 80ft deep and 750ft and 915ft across, which is still visible today.
The exact death toll remains uncertain, though it is considered at least 70 people died, including RAF personnel and civilian employees working at RAF Fauld, workers at the adjacent Gypsum mine, local agricultural workers and 6 former Italian POWs, with many others injured.
Tickets £3/person payable on the door.
