Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk. V T4136

Some "Aviation Enthusiasts" nearly came a cropper here.

The bomb was found in the bucket of their JCB, according to The Independent, so obviously good archaeological practice was (as ever for wreckologists) not the No. 1 priority!

I am led to believe Eliott Smock of "The Whitley Project" was the digger in question. Perhaps he would have been better to leave well alone.

He has said since the original date of the posting that he makes no claim to be an archaeologist, and is just digging to get parts to attempt to make a museum piece.

It's nice that he does not have the common delusions of grandeur, but even if you are a house-builder, wouldn't it be better to allow professional archaeologists to make the maximum possible use of your dig site?

If you are going to drive a digger through a crash site, you will irreversibly destroy the archaeological evidence.

Why not follow the new CADW guidelines, even if you are not required to do so by law?

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Location SE 889 818

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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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V BD232

Whitley
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Scraps of aluminium found as we ascended Foel Fras, above Llyn Dulyn. Though we knew there was more in the area, we were on a bit of a whistle-stop tour...

Location:SH 70309 67057

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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V BD232

Whitley
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The identification numbers showing this to be the Whitley wreck site

Airspeed Oxford LB537 or Whitley Mk.V BD232?

Oxford?
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Looking across to the original location of the C-47 wreck referred to in the next post from the coordinates given in High Ground Wrecks for an Oxford crash site, where we found this aircraft component.

The HGW coordinates and location do not agree, as noted in comments on this post, so we will investigate further.

Location:SH 70243 66962

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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V Z9189

We found a glob of formerly molten aluminium, and a flake a bit less less heat distorted at the crash site of this Whitley which had a short, unsuccessful flight from the nearby Darley Moor airfield.

The ground here is full of aluminium, and the greenish corrosion which often accompanies it at crash sites.

Pat Cunningham's coordinates were unusually far out here, enough to put you in the wrong field, and on the wrong side of the road. Luckily the urbane Mr. Basile, (owner of the relevant land), happened by on horseback and was able to give a few pointers.

Location:SK 17754 42867

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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V EB338

Whitley Crash site
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

This Whitley crashed just over the wall from the Tissington Trail. A bit of corroded steel found on the surface, with many more bits detected underground.

Location: SK 15033 55671

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Cowper's Cross:Ilkley Moor

Cowpers Cross:Ilkley Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We are casting our net a little wider now, as the wreck sites in the Peak are often now just a few scraps of aluminium.

We bought a few more books, and made contact with some people in surrounding areas, like Yorkshire.

We went out this week to try our luck on Ilkley Moor, and found the Halifax up there with accurate coordinates from Richard Allenby. His suggested site for the Whitley near Cowper's Cross was however probably fruitless.

Ilkely Moor was more like a country park than real moorland, but nice enough...You wouldn't believe the trouble we had finding a pie in Ilkley, would have been easier to get guacamole than mushy peas. Eeh, it's posh up North...

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley MkV 9274 MH-U

Whitley: Ilkley Moor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Our search of the area around Cowper's Cross yielded this twisted bit of aluminium. It was a long way away from the area we were advised to look in, and it doesn't look anything like the bits of wreckage previous hunters claim to have found. We are not convinced, but just maybe...

We are not sure if there are two Whitleys on the Moor, or one. Richard Allenby told us one, but his website shows two...

Location:SE 103 457

Further info(Richard Allenby)

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V BD230

Whitley: Muggington
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Failing to find anything at the Canberra site near Monyash, we went for an easy win with this monument erected over the crater of the crash site (and grave for three of the crew) of a Whitley near Muggington(SK 29516 43973). More information about the crash is here.

Previous reports suggested that any scraps of wreckage ploughed up were laid on the foot of the monument. Any such scraps seem to have gone, and to have been replaced by accident or design with half a dead rabbit.

We'll get back to the Canberra under more favourable circumstances...