Friday 29 February 2008

Avro Tutor K3308


Tutor: Mill Cottages
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Here's the alleged touchdown area for the Avro Tutor which went on to crash into the trees in the background of the shot. Or be deliberately and skilfully arrested by them, depending on whether you believe the pilot's account or not.

We found no definitive sign of the event, but we did bump into some present day occupants of the mill where the road-mender witness quoted in Peakland Air Crashes lived. This mill can be glimpsed behind the trees. It seems unlikely that any road-menders (other than perhaps Sir Robert McAlpine) live there now. Gentrification, eh?

Location: TBA when we find evidence

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Reims Cessna F.150M G-BFRP


Cessna
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A day of unusual lack of success yesterday. Here's me failing to find any part of the Cessna which crashed on the side of Broadlee Bank Tor above Edale. We will revisit, with new information received since.

Location: TBA when we find physical evidence

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Thursday 21 February 2008

Turret Assembly


Turret Assembly
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A complete turret assembly from a B29, courtesy of a US rebuilder of B29s. The ring inside the green one is the bit we found. Thanks Taigh..

Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999


B29-Shelf Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This item, 1/4 mile distant from the commonly visited wreck of "Overexposed", and described by some as an "engine casing", has eluded us a few times in the past. We finally got it today.

The B-29 rebuilder who gave us the photo in the post above thinks that it is a gun well, possibly the upper four gun turret, matching the ring assembly below this post. As the comment below shows, others think differently.

We heard this was here as a result of an abandoned effort at large-scale souvenir hunting.

Location:SK 09373 94622

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Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44-61999


B29-Shelf Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This gun ring is part of the computer-controlled gun system from the Superfortress wrecked at Shelf Stones. For a complete original assembly see two posts above. We found it a full half-mile from the main wreck site.

Ours still has its original paint and part serial numbers. Under the black paint is green similar to that on the complete assembly above. The outer edge of the ring is studded with alternating parts marked with a General Electric logo, and "ASSEMBLY 8091147G "and "ASSEMBLY 80911610T".

Location:SK 09385 94461

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Friday 15 February 2008

Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC DV435


Wellington: Shottle
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Bits of this Wellington which crashed near Shottle Hall, Belper. Click on the pic for the annotated version.

Location:SK 30737 47845 (note that farmer is not receptive to uninvited visitors to the site)

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Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.III DF611 coded W


Wellington:A515
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Didn't find any plane wreckage at this site near the A515, photo shows drystone wall bodged up by the RAF after recovering the wreck. We'll be back...

Location:SK 15632 61606 (this photo, not wreck)

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Lockheed P-38J Lightning 42-67480


Lightning:Cronkston
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A previously molten bit of aluminium from our fifth site visited yesterday, and the first of two crashed Lightnings in 11 days for the pilot. His other crash site was also visited by us recently , details here.

Location:SK 11503 66146

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English Electric Canberra B. Mk.6 WT207


IMG_0026
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Second time lucky, we found these bits of the Canberra which exploded at high altitude whilst carrying out trials of an experimental rocket engine.

The marked bits have an inspection stamp which says OWL 6, and what seems to be a part number, D 5660/1A, as you can see by clicking on the pic. I'm sure this means something to someone.

Alan Clark's site talks of inspector's stamps on bits he recovered at this site...

Location:SK 16155 66123

Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC L7811 coded OJ-C


Wellington:Conksbury
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This 500 mm long, weird looking lump of steel and aluminium was located at the Conksbury crash site of this Wellington by metal detection. There were a lot more pop cans than aircraft wreckage though...

Any suggestions as to what it might be welcome.

Location:SK 21081 65766

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Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.III X3941


Wellington: Roach House Farm
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This Wellington crash site yielded a few scraps of surface and semi-surface wreckage as shown in the photo.

Location:SK 30382 66206

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Airspeed Oxford Mk.I BG197


Oxford: Starkholmes
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This Oxford crash site above Starkholmes near Matlock yielded these few bits fairly readily. These were surface wreckage, contrary to Pat Cunningham's experience at the site. The circular bit at the back looked like the turntable of an old record player, but the rest is definitely plane wreckage.

Location:SK 30187 58638

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Wednesday 13 February 2008

Lockheed P-38J Lightning 42-67207 coded B9-1


Lightning: Tintwsitle Knarr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Walked up Tintwistle Knarr near Glossop with my 4 year old daughter yesterday to look again at the wreck sites up there (previous visit here). Great weather, was sweating by the time we got to the top.

A short distance from the oft-photographed cross and wreckage pile from the Lightning crash was what looked to be an impact site with these good-sized chunks of wreckage. The crook-shaped bit is maybe 500mm long, cast aluminium alloy.

Location: SK 03940 99077

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Monday 11 February 2008

Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) Cruise Missile


V1
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Speaking of V1s, here's one on the ramp ready for launch, as photographed by Mick previously...

Wednesday 6 February 2008

Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) Cruise Missile:Black Edge


V1:Black Edge
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

In line with our recent push on V1 sites, here are two chunks of steel shrapnel from the crater left by a V1 which exploded short of its Manchester target on the moors above Buxton.

Peakland Air Crashes said there was no metal here, but it was quite easy to find, more as described by Alan Clark.

Location:SK 06177 77912

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Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) Cruise Missile


V1:Black Edge
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The crater left by this V1 on Black Edge near Buxton. Nice light,eh!

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Avro Anson Mk.I L7968


Anson:Moss Ridge
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A flake of aluminium from the crash of this Anson near Buxton. Sorry about the rubbish photo, we were in a hurry to finish up before we were out of light.

Location:SK 04606 75102

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