Tuesday 23 December 2008

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326 'C' Charlie

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326: Dolwen Lancaster
Dolwen Lancaster
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

We went out yesterday for a look at the Dolwen Lancaster. We knew it had been "recovered" a few years back, so were unprepared for how much skinning and other components might have been left behind by wreckologists clearly interested only in engines.

There is a lot. We'd still class this site as at least a "medium" on the High Ground Wrecks gradings. The HGW coords are pretty good too.

We understand the soft ground meant that the engines were exceptionally well-preserved. We believe one of them to be in the Caernarvon Airworld "museum". Where the others are we do not know.

We understand the guy previously mentioned on here who makes the little model 'planes from melted down wreckage has also visited this site.

This is Matt ZX with the crater and wreckage piles in the background

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326 'C' Charlie

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326: Dolwen Lancaster
Dolwen Lancaster
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The larger of the two wreckage piles

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326 'C' Charlie

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326: Dolwen Lancaster
Dolwen Lancaster
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Serial numbers and inspection stamps on the discarded wreckage. Click on and zoom in to see clearly.

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326 'C' Charlie

Avro Lancaster Mk. I W4326: Dolwen Lancaster
Dolwen Lancaster
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The smaller of the two wreckage piles with its home-made memorial stone.

Someone seems to have claimed the site for Wales, despite the crew being from Canada and New Zealand in the main, and the aircraft having flown from 101 Group in Yorkshire.

Location: SH 95433 09203

More info

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101
Engine: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

After a number of trips without a decent find we thought we'd go to a site known to have good sized wreckage. We chose the crash site of Thunderbolt 42-75101 on Mynydd Copog, just outside the Snowdonia National Park, and therefore seemingly safe from the scrap merchants.

Matt ZX was supposed to come with, but had to go elsewhere at short notice. Our thanks to him for assistance with planning.

What a change from last week's conditions. It was clear and bright, frosty but not freezing cold. It was a breeze to get up to the wood (planted after the crash) on top of the hill. That the plantation was of Christmas trees was pleasantly seasonal.

Finding the wreckage pile and engine on the boundary of the wood was a doddle. Behind this in the wood is a bigger pile of wreckage still, not shown elsewhere on the 'net.

We explored the wood for a couple of hours, finding all sorts of fair sized scraps everywhere to the East of the edge site illustrated. The only thing of high interest (for us at least) we found was an oxygen bottle in good nick.

Due to the heavy tree cover, some of this week's coordinates are expected to be of lower than usual accuracy.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101: Oxygen Cylinder
Oxygen Tank: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

This is one of the oxygen tanks from the rear of the cockpit. Their original location can be seen in the P-47's flight manual at the link below.

If you click through and zoom in, the following text can be clearly read," TYPE D-2 INTERNAL VOLUME 500 CUBIC INCHES AVAILABLE OXYGEN FROM ...50 POUNDS PER SQ..PRESSURE=6.9 CUBIC.."

The full text would originally have said "F.S.P. CO., BREATHING OXYGEN, NONSHATTERABLE TYPE D-2 INTERNAL VOLUME 500 CUBIC INCHES, AVAILABLE OXYGEN FROM 400 TO 50 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH PRESSURE=6.9 CUBIC FEET" if you are interested.

Location: SH 88510 14378

More info

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101: Wreckage
Pile: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The largest pile of bits, (probably collected in this gully by the recovery team) is maybe 20 metres into the woods behind the engine.

Location: SH 88470 14434

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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101: Wreckage
Pile: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Detail from the pile of skinning and components nearerest to the edge of the wood

Location: SH 88453 14438

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Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101: Double Wasp with Xmas Trees
Engine: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Season's Greetings from Mick and Seán.

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Blenheim V6099: Elidirs-continued....

Blenheim V6099
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The continuing saga of Elidir Fawr: are there actually four planes on the mountain, but we have the wrong four? RJMP, a sixties/seventies wreckhunter reports as follows:

"We thought at the time that the wreck on the NW side of Elidir Fawr was a Beaufighter, because that is what the RAF Valley lists said, but I accept that it is probably a Blenheim. They were very similar of course.

I knew all of the Blenheim's wreckage long before ‘aviation archeologists' and others started moving it all around (And of course, when it was only 25 years old, not 65 years old!!). I recovered various live .303 rounds I remember. All the wreckage on this side of the mountain is from one wreck. The wreckage extends from the point of impact, where the burned wreckage is to be found, right down into Marchlyn Bach. There were no engines in those days (mid 60s to early 70s), so they were either well buried or more likely recovered.

The Skua is indeed on the other side of the mountain.


Interestingly, I once found a single small piece of wreckage at around SH613618, away from the Blenheim wreckage trail. At the time I considered it to be what I called an ‘erratic’ (glaciologists will know what I mean) – a piece of the Blenheim that had been carried here and then discarded.

A few years later, when construction of the Marchlyn Mawr dam was commenced, they actually drained the lake in order to build the dam footings and presumably to dig the tunnel down to the turbines in the Dinorwic quarry. When they drained the lake they found a German aircraft in the bottom of the lake, complete with crew remains! There was a report in the local newspaper about it, which I didn't see, but my father did. I have wondered since whether the small piece of wreckage I found came from this wreck. I have never seen any other reference to the aircraft in the lake. "


I have written to the council to see if they know anything about the German 'plane. I'll see if I can track down the local paper report.

So it seems to be Tomahawk on the summit, Blenheim on the west side, Skua on the east, and a German plane in the lake. No Beaufighter. We'll be back in summer to see if we can find the evidence to back up the reports. In the meantime, research continues.

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808

Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808: Digger
Gouthwaite Moor: Wellington Z8808
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Another day out above Pateley Bridge, but no electric blue skies this time. Snow, sleet, wind and rough underfoot, it was hard going.

Our main objective, the extensive Wellington wreckage on Gouthwaite Moor proved elusive once again, though you could have hidden much under the showdrifts.

We did however find this digger. We are resisting the urge to comment further about diggers.

We offer as a consolation details of a couple of local sites which have not yet been found by anyone.

Handley Page Halifax LL576

Handley Page Halifax LL576: Gouthwaite farm
Gouthwaite Farm: Halifax LL576
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Up over the hill, past that farm somewhere lie the remains of a Canadian crewed Halifax bomber. No-one has yet found the wreck site.

Location: SE 130 686

More info

BAC Jet Provost T.3a XN598

BAC Jet Provost T.3a XN598; Crash location: Gouthwaite Reservoir
Gouthwaite Reservoir: Jet Provost T.3a XN598
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A jet trainer aircraft crashed into Gouthwaite reservoir in the area shown in this photograph in June 1978 killing its instructor pilot.

Location: SE 131 694

More info

Thursday 4 December 2008

Blenheim V6099: Elidirs

Blenheim V6099: Elidirs
Blenheim: Elidirs
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

We didn't manage to get out again this week, but "Rob the Tog" did, and he reports as follows on the Elidir Fawr sites mixup issue:

"I've just managed my first trip in quite a long time. It was up the Blenheim/Skua sites on Elidir Fawr. I just though I'd run my thoughts past you to see what you think.

Firstly, I've got to agree with you the mystery Beaufighter doesn't exist, just a simple mix up in identification on the 'scrap dealers' list.

If that is the case, then I think all three areas of wreckage on this side of the hill are from Blenheim V6099, I'll explain why.

If you are discounting the Beaufighter then the undercarriage and oleo comes from the Blenheim as the as the Skua has a totally different u/c set up.That must make the high site with the small cairn and burnt area the actual crash site of the Beaufighter and the u/c is on the direct fall line from this site.

In all the sites I've been to, even with people moving things, the heavy items always end up down the slope. This only becomes important to rule out the pile of aluminium skin as a crash site.

I know this pile matches the 'High Ground Wrecks & Relics' co-ords. But something doesn't feel right, as there is no evidence of anything else, no burning, no little scraps etc, at that site.

My theory is that these pieces of skin have blown down the face then someone has collected them and cached them there for what ever reason (probably quite a long time ago). Then 'High Ground Wrecks' has mistakenly called this the crash site.

This has then cased a second mistake in 'High Ground Wrecks'. With the Beaufighter crash supposedly accounted for, they have called the high site the Skua crash. So making one crash into two, I know it might sound a bit far fetched but, 'High Ground Wrek' is riddled with mistakes when you start going though it in detail.

I know what you're thinking, 'in that case where is the Skua?'. The short answer is on the other side of the mountain. I haven't got any grid refs, but I found threes small pieces of info that back my hunch up.

Firstly, page 91, 'No landing place' ... Skua, "Flew into the east face of Elidir Fawr.

Secondly, comment 8 on the scrap dealers list (I don't know who they are but they do seem to know what they are talking about) ... "No 28, marks the summit of the mountain (I've checked it does) half-way between the Blenheim and Skua". That says to me, if it's half way between and the Blenheim is on one side then the Skua is on the other.

Thirdly (and by far the most tenuous). If you google L3054, about the fourth hit down is a .pdf called 'A cultural guide to a low level route ......' but the point is the bit mentioning the crash also mentions the aircraft flying into the east face.

So that's it, in short to try to clear things up we need to have a look see if there is crash in the east face of Elidir Fawr."

Seems a convincing argument for further investigation to us, though it'll be best done without snow on the ground judging from his pic.

We'll also visit the summit sometime to look for the Cessna and any evidence of the other crashes. Unless someone else wants to report on the foot of the east face, and the summit for us?

Hopefully we won't turn into another couple of armchair wreckhunters. Or worse yet, self-important no-life anoraks, like certain of our more unbalanced correspondents.

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Moelfre, Foel Lywd, Sychnant Pass: Chinook, Liberator, Oxford, Anson

Chinook
Chinook
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A day out in Snowdonia, the weather forecast didn't quite pan out, so only one new site to report.

We were overflown by this Chinook just before finding the crash site and memorial to the Liberator bomber "Bachelor's Baby"

We passed close to the crash site of Oxford N4568 by the Sychnant pass on our way to the next site, but didn't stop as we don't have enough information to make a search in lashing rain attractive.

We also had to abandon our return visit for Anson VV995's undercarriage about 50m short of the most likely location, as we were running out of light and the weather was turning very nasty.

As ever, we'll be back.

Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991 "Bachelors Baby"

Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991: Memoria
Liberator-Batchelor's Baby: Moelfre
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The burn site with its two memorials resulting from the crash of "Bachelor's Baby", which was a brand new Liberator bomber before it met with Moelfre's slopes.

Though all but six (or four according to the link below) of the eleven crew died in the crash, one went on to resume his sports career in the US as the "singing fullback".

More info

Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991 "Bachelors Baby"

Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991: Memorial
Liberator-Batchelor's Baby: Moelfre
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A fractured rock with cross on top. At the base of the cross, scraps of the 'plane.

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Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991 "Bachelors Baby"

Consolidated B-24 J Liberator 42-99991: Memorial
Liberator-Batchelor's Baby: Moelfre
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Memorial to the five human crew killed in the 1942 crash of this American heavy bomber, and their dog "Booster", who was interred at the site.

The site is a full 82 m from the six decimal place coordinates given on the "GPS Walker" site. Perhaps that is why Alan Clark is happy to carry a link to that inaccurate and ill-maintained site and not to ours. No-one is going to find much from "GPS Walker"'s coordinates.

Since the site's title implies that GPS is being used for navigation and production of coordinates, we have no idea how the coordinates published on the website can be so far out.

We have had no success in contacting "GPS Walker", but if you are out there, your comments are invited. We link below our +/-3m accurate coordinates to the relevant page of "GPS Walker"'s site.

Location: SH 71564 74345

More info

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Bofurs Gun

Bofurs Gun
40mm AA Gun
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

One of Welsh Barry's finds, a pretty much complete 40mm Bofurs anti-aircraft autocannon apparently abandoned to rot in the wilds of Staffordshire.

Location:SK 04588 57285

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Monday 10 November 2008

West Midlands- Kidderminster

Secret Rocket Testing Facility:West Midlands-Kidderminster: Keep Out Danger Sign
Rocket Testing Facility
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A Remembrance Sunday out yesterday with Matt ZX and his Motley Crüe, as well as our mate Moustache Steve.

Turned a bit wet and windy towards the end of the day, but we had 100% success in finding trace evidence at the the three sites Matt had chosen, despite them all being well picked over by the usual magpies.

Passed this secret rocket testing facility, (now scarcely used) on the way. Security could be a bit tighter.

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I Z5663

Scraps of Hawker Hurricane Mk. I Z5663
Hurricane: Bewdley
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Scraps from the crash site of this Hurricane in the Wyre Forest.

Location SO 7472 77904

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Spitfire Mk.XIV NH695

Spitfire Mk.XIV NH695:Nut
Spitfire: Bewdley
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A nut from a Spitfire which crashed in Postensplain, Wyre Forest.

This is our first crash site for a female pilot.

Mrs Rosamund King Everard-Steenkamp was at the controls. We are told that her husband had himself previously died in an aviation accident. She may have been the first woman to fly a jet.

Location: SO 74870 79165

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Airspeed Oxford AT655

Airspeed Oxford AT655: Crash Site Wreckage
Oxford: Kidderminster
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The remains of this Oxford in Wassell Wood, SW Midlands are more substantial than those at the other two sites visited on the day.

Location: SO 79661 77602

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Friday 7 November 2008

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV Z5870

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV Z5870
Crowden Brook
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Further to some recent correspondence, we decided to search up from Crowden Brook towards what is believed by some to be the terminal site of this still unlocated Blenheim Bomber crash.

Like all others we are aware of, we failed to find any trace of the 'plane on the mountain.

On the other hand, we did get to be overtaken by little old ladies (amongst many others) on what seemed to be the most well-trafficked route up Kinder we have yet been on.

Location:TBC

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De Havilland Vampire T.11 XE854

De Havilland Vampire T.11 XE854:Memorials
Neglected Crash Site Memorial
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

By an industrial estate in Rawmarsh, there is an unmade lane. Down this lane there is an empty house. Behind the empty house there is derelict half-acre of waist-high nettles.

100 yards through this there is a scruffy thicket of trees. Inside the thicket there is a low, gated wall.

Inside the wall there is a tangle of brambles, and in this tangle there are two memorials and a bench commemorating the fatal crash of a Vampire jet in 1959.

We'd never have found this without Pat Cunningham's 6 d.p. coordinates.

The standing memorial is from the pilot's aunties and uncles, and the one on the ground from his parents. The neglected state of these memorials is a sad sight.

UPDATE the memorials and the pilot's ashes have been moved to new locations

De Havilland Vampire T.11 XE854

De Havilland Vampire T.11 XE854:Memorial
Neglected Crash Site Memorial
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The parents of the teenage pilot placed this memorial in the crater caused by his crashing his jet into the ground after disobeying orders in order to fly low over his home whilst supposedly on a training flight.

He had previously got away this with on several occasions in prop 'planes, but this time he became disoriented in cloud, and hit the ground with fatal results.

If this seems a harsh summary of events, Pat Cunnigham's is less generous still.

The pilot's ashes are also interred here.

Location: SK 43346 95752

More info

UPDATE

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach

Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach
Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A Wales trip yesterday, we set out with no great hopes of finding any of the three known, and one disputed wreck sites on Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach. Elidir Fawr has a power station hidden inside it, and is therefore also known as Electric Mountain.

On top of "Electric Mountain", in that cloud somewhere, might well be some remains from the crash of Piper Tomahawk G-BOCC, but we weren't up for the final ascent on the day. The Tomahawk's pilot spent several hours conscious and badly injured hanging over a long, steep drop before he was rescued. Not his best day ever, I shouldn't imagine.

The crash site is allegedly very close to the remains of a Beaufighter according to the Snowdonia scrap dealer's list. They don't call themselves scrap dealers, they think they are aviation archaeologists. However, since most of the stuff they "recovered" quasi-legally from the mountains of Wales ended up weighed in for scrap, it seems the fairest description. Archaeologists do not deal in scrap metal.

We did find wreckage where these Diddycoys said they found Hercules engines from a Beaufighter. We understand however that majority opinion would be that this wreckage is from a Skua which crashed there, or even from the Blenheim crash site (600m away, according to "High Ground Wrecks"). Skuas did not have Bristol Hercules engines. They did however have Bristol Perseus engines. These have 9 cylinders, vs 14 for the Hercules. Could it be that they just couldn't count that high? Of course, if the grave-robbers hadn't weighed the identifiable bits of the the 'plane in, we'd be in a better position to comment on what they saw!

We also found some bits on the slopes of Elidir Fach which were unarguably from Blenheim V6099. It doesn't appear on the previously mentioned list, but it's definitely on the hill.

So we found a fair bit more than expected, and were back down in time for a spot of fish and chips. All good.

Since we posted this we have had some correspondence which suggests that we should not criticise people we have not met.

OK, we take it all back. That guy Hitler was probably just misunderstood too. What do we know, we never met him.

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We think the molten aluminium mixed in with these more recognisable components show this to be the burn-out site of this disputed wreck site on Elidir Fawr.

There is a cairn immediately adjacent to this scatter of bits, perhaps indicating that someone else thought the same.

We are calling it as the Skua rather than a Beaufighter, based on what is there to be seen now. It might even be more of the Blenheim. That would be a long wreckage trail, mind.

Location:SH 60976 61526


More info

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A cluster of fair sized bits of steel below the burn site, with my walking pole for scale.

Location: SH 60960 61570

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The lowest sizeable bit we found near the HGW coordinates for the Skua. Looks to be a bit of undercarriage and associated oleo strut.

There is some evidence that this might be a bit of the Blenheim, despite being much closer to High Ground Wrecks' Skua site.

A correspondent tells us that the undercarriage is from a Blenheim. (I would say suggests, but the correspondent is not a person who suggests, but rather expects to be beleived on the basis of his own unrealistic self-appraisal) This is easily possible, though the photos offered as evidence are far from conclusive.

No-one is presently offering any convincing evidence to dispute that any of the other suspected Skua parts are from a Blenheim. No-one other than this correspondent, and his mate have offered any opinion, despite the photos having been posted on the Aero Part Identity Board since 28/10/2008.

Location: SH 60900 61740

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Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099
Blenheim: Elidirs
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Some bits of aluminium skinning from the site of the 31 March 1943 crash of 22 year old Flying Officer Edward Alexander Perry's Bristol Blenheim.

We don't normally bother too much with the historical stuff on here, but there's really nothing on the web from other wreck hunters on this.

Though there were no identifying marks on any of these bits, we are calling this definitively Blenheim wreckage based on the proximity to the High Ground Wrecks coordinates. No-one is disagreeing with us so far.

Location: SH 60874 62112

More info

Monday 20 October 2008

Staffordshire Moorlands

Staffordshire Moorlands
Crane
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

We went to the Leek area today to look at a couple of small wreck sites.

While we were at it, we found this old steam crane at the edge of a wood. Mick had to hop up for a play on it. That's his Casey Jones face.

There are also some freight carriages and a first class passenger carriage rotting away on the overgrown sidings at this site.

Location:SJ 97072 44955

But on to the 'plane wrecks...

Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9958

Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9958
Havoc:Quarnford
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A scrap of aluminium skinning from the crater left by the 1945 crash of this Douglas Havoc near Quarnford, Staffordshire.

Location:SK 03209 68071

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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V LA765

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V LA765
Whitley: Godleybrook
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A chunk of cast aluminium alloy from the 1944 crash site of this Whitley bomber at Dilhorne near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.

Location: SJ 97304 44867

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Tuesday 14 October 2008

Pateley Bridge

We went over to Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire to look at some of the cluster of wreck sites around there yesterday.

We had a day of moderate success, starting with readily finding somewhere to get breakfast (four fried chickens and a coke for me, dry white toast for Mick) in Pateley Bridge.

Ten miles exactly, across mooorland very reminiscent of Bleaklow yielded two of the day's planned wreck sites, a Piper Cherokee and a Handley Page Halifax. The last one (a Wellington) probably eluded us, though we found a mystery bit.

We'll be back to clear this, and the dozen or so other sites we have in the surrounding area. It's a far better centre of operations than Ilkley.

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A or Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808?

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A or Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808?
Halifax or Wellington?
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

We found this bit of aircraft aluminium on our walk to the Halifax, more or less halfway between the reported crash sites of the Halifax and a Wellington.

Location: SE 10236 67759

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Pretty much the whole of this Piper Cherokee remains at Ashfold Gill Head on the moors above Pateley Bridge

Location: SE 07420 68358

More info

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN Wing
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Mick in the standard pose of visitors to this site, with the 'plane's crumpled wing.

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN Memorial
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A poignant message seemingly left recently by the 22-year old pilot's son on the wing of the aircraft.

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Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A pit containing large pieces of aluminium skinning from Halifax DG404 on Brown Hill Plain (some give it as Heathfield Moor or even Ashfold Side Beck) on the moors above Pateley Bridge

Location: SE 09570 67520

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

One of the two groups of good-sized wreckage at this Halifax crash site

Location: SE 09592 67502

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Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A Serial Number
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

And for you serial number fans, here's a detail from a bit of wreckage carrying an embossed serial number with the "57" prefix indicative of a Halifax.

Tuesday 7 October 2008

Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr

Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr: Sean and Matt in the fog
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A day out with Matt ZX yesterday on foggy Arenig Fawr looking at the crash site of a Flying Fortress. We found far more wreckage than expected, trailling 300m down the slope in a suspiciously straight line which Matt thought might be the path taken by the recovery team.

Theres' not really much on the 'net about this site, but the link below gives a precis of the circumstances of the crash, and a pic of the crew..

Location: SH 82430 37069 to SH 82649 36942

More info

Arenig Fawr: Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Memorial and Wreck Site
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The memorial with small crash debris in front, adjacent to the trig. point.

This memorial appears identical to that which was reportedly fixed to the wall of the Town Hall.

Was it moved up here, or are there two of them?

Location: SH 82703 36949

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Memorial
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Memorial Detail: compare this with this photo of the one on the Old Town Hall. Is this the same memorial stone?

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Molten Aluminium
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Formerly molten aluminium from the crash scar at the summit of Arenig Fawr

Location: SH 82649 36942

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134:Aluminium scraps
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A collection of fair-sized bits further down the hill. Our Flickr site shows lots of other bits we found all the way up to the crash site and memorial. Too many and too small to blog them all.

Location: SH 82565 37052

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Aluminium scraps
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

This was the lowest substantial bit of wreckage we found. Thoroughly concertinaed by the crash.

Location: SH 82435 37069

Tuesday 30 September 2008

Further afield

We decided to look a little further afield this week, visiting parts of Wales outside the Snowdonia National Park for a change.

We were not disappointed by the wreckage on Foel Wen/Mynydd Tarw of Blenheim L4873, though time and the elements has turned what was a fairly complete wing section into a scatter of big scraps of aluminium skinning in the main.

We planned quite a short walk to allow us to search quite widely for the nearby Flying Fortress 41-9098, which we had heard was hard to find from the Doylerush/High Ground Wreck grid reference.

We found it 670m from these coordinates, in a different valley entirely. We also found what we think was the scar on the hillside which caused these author's confusion.

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L4873

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L4873
Blenheim:Mynydd Tarw
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Overgrowth by soft rush makes it hard to do justice to this pretty extensive pile of wreckage up on Foel Wen(or possibly Mynydd Tarw) in a photo.

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L4873: Close up
Blenheim:Mynydd Tarw
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The bit of metal in the foreground is a main spar from the wing of this bomber aircraft. It's a good sized bit of metal.

Location: SJ 10303 32442

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NOT Boeing Flying Fortress B-17E 41-9098, Westland Lysander Mk.III T1655, or Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIA P7295


Not Fortress: Bwylch Maen Gwynedd
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

This scar in Bwylch Maen Gwynedd was close to the coordinates given in "High Ground Wrecks", for three 'planes (Boeing Flying Fortress B-17E 41-9098, Westland Lysander Mk.III T1655, and Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIA P7295), and looked pretty convincing from a distance.

Close up however, not a trace of metal. It's hard to crash a 16 tonne 'plane into the ground and not leave a scrap of aluminium.

We know this isn't it, but we think this might be what HGW have marked as the Fortress crash site.

Location:SJ 07733 34027

More info