Mynydd Mawr

Mick: I am the Law
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Mick's Judge Dredd expression: one of his favourites.

Even with the purple heather blooming everywhere on the slopes of Mynydd Mawr.

DeHavilland Vampire VZ874: Scraps

Vampire
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Vampire VZ874 flew into Mynydd Mawr on 12th October 1956. All that is now to be seen are a few scraps like these scattered in the vicinity of the summit.

We understand that any bigger bits found their way to Caernarfon's Aviation Museum, where you might be able to see them for half the year at £5.50 per head, though their website says it is still closed for winter 2006 .

We note that the museum's website does not think important enough to mention a single one of the Snowdonia wreck sites we have been to so far, whose "recovered" parts supposedly ended up in this establishment (The ones that didn't end up melted down for scrap, or adorning someone's garden, that is). We would concede that however infrequently visited a museum might be, it is a preferable fate for bits of these old 'planes to becoming a private collector's toy.

We are sure that it is all very educational, and that its' seemingly amateurish and out of date website is unrepresentative of its world-leading position in aviation archaeology. Oh yes.

Location:SH 53981 54613

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DeHavilland Mosquito W4088: Impact Point

Mosquito
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The few sad remains at the crash site of Mosquito W4088. This site has been plundered by diggers, albeit with MOD permission.

And what has become of the items "recovered"?Are they perhaps to be found at Duxford, or some other well-known and visited museum? Are they part of a rebuild? Was the recovery operation a scientific project which produced a useful report in some peer-reviewed scientific journal? Nope, none of the above. The engine has passed through many hands on its way to being a garden ornament in Somerset, and some other parts were melted down to make little model aircraft-see here.

Nice work lads. That's some great "rescuing". If Mountain Rescue shared your view of what constitutes rescue, you wouldn't want to get stuck on a mountain, in case they they added your skull to their rockery, or melted you down for down for glue.

There are some undercarriage remains and oleos a little down the hill, but time did not permit us to see them this time. Matt ZX photographed them earlier this year though.

Location:SH 54335 55127

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