Saturday 24 May 2008

Llyn Dulyn

Llyn Dulyn: C-47 Propellor
Llyn Dulyn
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Above Llyn Dulyn, there are supposed to be five Ansons, a Wellington, Oxford and Whitley. We visited on Friday, and didn't find a single Anson.

We think we got evidence for everything else though, including the C-47 propellor seen in the foreground of this shot of the Lake.

5 comments:

Arjayempee said...

I am not sure which 5 Ansons specifically this refers to, but here are the ones I know of in the area.

(1) The best of them (most wreckage) is in the bed of a stream at SH691666. The engines and undercarriage remain. I believe the worst injury in this crash was a fractured ankle, the other three occupants of the aircraft being able to walk down to Bethesda. (This was Anson #EF909 that crashed 30 November 1943, according to “No Landing Place).

(2) The RAF MR record an Anson crashing 12 July 1944 at SH699675. I found wreckage at SH696676 “chiefly south of the wall” – which agrees with the RAF description. My estimate of the height was 2970ft (905m). I found what appeared to be a fairly substantial piece, partially buried, perhaps an engine, further down the hill in a bog at SH698675. In my 1972 notes I described its position as “south and slightly below one of the fence posts”!

(3) The east side of Foel Fras is concave – it will probably become a proper corrie after a couple more ice-ages! This Anson is near the bottom edge of this hollow at SH699677. There was very little to see in 1972 – small pieces, part of a radio condenser, and some bits of wood. No sign of the engines or undercarriage. There is a vehicle track into this area from the north, over the top of Drum, via which I suspect much wreckage was removed. I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear that the RAF constructed the track during the war for this purpose. The RAF list I have gives its crash date as 23 August 1943 (which makes it Anson #N5371) and its GR as SH697678. Edward Doylerush gives its position as 698680 and tells how its wing hit a large rock and that the aircraft was subsequently salvaged. I seem to remember a fair sized boulder.

(4) The next Anson I have, is further away, on the east side of Drum. The RAF GR is SH715698. The description reads: “Date 25 Apr 1944. Height 2000ft. Very small pieces. Other bits of this aircraft are at SH721700 at 1600ft and SH725706 at 1250ft.” Both of these GRs are in the stream below the given crash position, so are quite probable. I have had one look for this wreck but did not find it. I remember the vegetation as hard going!

(5) The last Anson (#VV995) I know of round here, is on Tal-y-Fan. The GR I have is SH723722, which might be questionable. The fuselage framework was still quite in tact when I visited with my father – long ago! It crashed 20 May 1959. All on board were killed. “No Landing Place” Vol.2 describes this crash.

Sean said...

Cheers, RJMP!

Peak District Air Accident Research said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sean said...

Thanks, Alan. We had seen no reports of anything other than fragments being seen at the site in a long time...

Unknown said...

Was close to here on monday. Thabks for info. Really good.