Aran Fawddwy

Thunderbolt?: Aran Fawddwy
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We went to Aran Fawddwy in Southern Snowdonia yesterday, mainly to see the Merlin Engine and assorted wreckage from a Mosquito, but also to investigate the Thunderbolt and Beaufighter wrecks we had heard were on the same mountain. We understand now that there is a fourth 'plane on Aran Fawddwy, A P-51D Mustang (44-726844), but we have no idea of its location.

Visibility was very poor on top, and the closest we came to finding the Beaufighter or Thunderbolt wrecks was this possible crude memorial at the Thunderbolt 41-6246 location given in High Ground Wrecks.

We found quite a bit of the Mosquito though...

Location: SH 86197 22221

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DeHavilland Mosquito Mk. IX LR412

Mosquito: Aran Fawddwy
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We found quite a collection of wreckage at this location, far more than we have seen a a Mosquito site before. The lack of wreckage at a typical Mosquito crash site may have something to do the the Mosquito's predominantly wooden construction.

Location: SH 85660 21485

More info: nothing on the 'net

DeHavilland Mosquito Mk. IX LR412

Mosquito: Aran Fawddwy
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A second collection of wreckage quite a way from the first contained this item, which shows the wooden nature of the Mosquito's construction unusually well.

Location: SH 85695 21523

DeHavilland Mosquito Mk. IX LR412

Mosquito: Aran Fawddwy
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Stamps found on this item from the first wreckage pile on the mountain show this to be a port wing component from a Mosquito. Not sure what the stamps to left and right of the part identification are though.

DeHavilland Mosquito Mk. IX LR412

Mosquito: Aran Fawddwy
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This Merlin Engine was cast in concrete to form a memorial to the crew of the Mosquito lost on Aran Fawddwy. It is an awfully long way (2.6 miles as the crow flies, and 600m of descent) from the wreck site on the mountain. Who knows how the farmer got it down.

Location:SH 81551 22403

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Flying Lanc

I see on Sky news this morning that the last UK flying Lanc. is going to make a few passes over Derwent Dam today. We are however off to Wales...

Halifax and Mosquito: Great Whernside

Awaiting Identification: Great Whernside
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We went up to Yorkshire yesterday in search of some bigger bits of aircraft wreckage. There are at least seven 'planes downed on Great Whernside, above Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales, so we gave that a go. Nice village. Big hill, on such a warm day.

This bit was found on the far side of the Mosquito wreck site from the Halifax crash location. Serial numbers and inspection stamps we found on the part however suggest that it is from the Halifax. The wreckage fields for Mosquito and Halifax are therefore overlapping. They did crash very close to each other. Details of the Halifax and Mosquito in the following posts.

Location:SE 00070 73490

Handley Page Halifax MkII DT578 Coded ZB?

Halifax?:Great Whernside
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We think these are the remains of Halifax DT578 which crashed in Great Whernside five years before the Mosquito shown in the next entry.

Location:SD 99974 73376

More info:Richard Allenby

De Havilland Mosquito NF36 RL197

Mosquito: Great Whernside
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A Mosquito undercarriage with various recognisable and and molten bits on Great Whernside on the North Yorkshire Moors.

A chunky home-made cross has been acquired since Richard Allenby's visit, but it seems that its accompanying plaque has been destroyed.

Location:SE 00024 73473

More info:Richard Allenby

Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.III DF611 coded W

Wellington: Scraps A515
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Proved the site of the crash of this Wellington next to the A515 near Newhaven. 30 yards behind the bodged wall shown in the pic of our first attempt, the ground is full of metal scraps like these.

Location:SK 15671 61630

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