Consolidated Liberator PB4Y-1 63934 USN

We were shown where a number of previously buried components of this Liberator were concealed today by the people who had hidden them.

We'd never have found some of them without this help.

This cylinder barrel comes from one of the two engines which were relocated.

Location: SE 00838 01630

Consolidated Liberator PB4Y-1 63934 USN

The second, more complete engine relocated today was reportedly rolled quite a way downhill by just one man.

Location: 365m from the main wreck site. Is this a record for single-handed engine-rolling?

Avro Anson Mk.XI NL185

 

A nip out onto Kinder with Pat today, to look at a number of sites. We found that the engine from this Anson has been moved a fair distance, and fallen into a hole. It looks from stream-bed damage like it has been rolled to this new position to me, but it isn't definitive. Unless someone wants to own up? 

Location: SK 08869 86573

DeHavilland Vampire FB5 VZ106

The Goblin 2 turbojet engine from the aircraft is still in place, rather than serving as a garage ornament for some sad anorak as so many engines now do.

Location: SN 82641 20047

De Havilland Mosquito Mk.III TV982

De Havilland Mosquito Mk.III TV982
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

This engine bearer used to hold one of the Mosquito's Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.

Of course even if engine and bearer had survived the crash together, this would have been discarded by the scrap merchants when they took the Merlin away to their "Museum".

Mick was telling me that Mr Doylerush was under the impression that the local magpies had told him the stuff they were scavenging was for a millenium museum in Bethesda.

We saw no signs of any such musem on our way through. Would anyone like to tell us what happened to the Bethesda Millennium Museum, and the engines looted on the basis that they were to be exhibits there?

Location: SH 61086 52980

Blackburn Botha Mk.I L6202 coded 6-20

Blackburn Botha L6202: Llwytmor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The highest, and most commonly found engine from this Botha, which crashed on Llwytmor on the 28th August 1943 while on a training flight from Hooton Park near Ellesmere Port.

There is plenty more wreckage all over the hillside in the vicinity of this engine, which is located very close to the aircraft's impact site.

Location: SH 68378 69129

Blackburn Botha Mk.I L6202 coded 6-20

Blackburn Botha L6202: Llwytmor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The elusive second engine from the Botha below the waterfall on Afon Goch.

This is 570m from the other, more commonly photographed one stuck in the crack in the rocks, and is the only picture of this lower engine on the 'net. Others say they have seen it, but as so often the case in the world of "wreckology", they offer no proof.

Location: SH 67810 69131

More info

Cessna 310 F G-ARMK

Cessna Engine
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The engine from this Cessna was still where we found it previously when we went up Daffydd on Monday on a training walk with Kev and Moustache Steve. The Anson and Ventura wrecks are also still in place, with nothing missing as far as we can see.

We had all sorts of fun with the Landy. First the starter motor burned out on the way there, requiring us to push-start 2 tons of Disco after going up and down the mountain. Didn't help that Kev came over all Bear Grylls and made us run all the way back down. Me knees are killing me.

The windscreen wipers failed in a storm on the way back, but they were brought back to life manually using bootlaces tied to the wipers.

All good fun.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101

Engine: Thunderbolt 42-75101
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Season's Greetings from Mick and Seán.

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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DHAS Merlin XII at Thorpe Camp

DHAS Merlin XII at Thorpe Camp
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

As promised, here is the Merlin 12 engine from the Windygates Farm Spitfire, courtesy of Mr Kirk of Derbyshire Historical Aviation Society.

It's not a Merlin 3, and it does not seem to have been left to rot. DHAS 2, Pat Cunningham 0.