Avro Lancaster W4929 Coded AJ-J

Lancaster
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Six straight hours of being rained on whilst tramping through a bog yielded only one find yesterday, the crash site and this memorial to the crew of a bomber downed (for reasons still unknown) north of Fan Foel in the Brecon Beacons.

We failed to find anything at the Moel Feity Liberator site reasonably nearby, but visibility was poor, and other excuses.

The poppy wreath is from the inmates of Swansea Prison. Anyone know why?

Location: SN 82792 23892

Avro Lancaster W4929 Coded AJ-J

AVRO LANCASTER W4929 CODED AJ-J
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The bent crankshafts from two Merlin engines in the foreground and just behind Mick are some of the largest bits in this 4m by 20m scar left in the hillside by the impact of a Lancaster bomber.

Location: SN 82793 23892

We have received the following information about this site from the aircrew remembrance society:

Lancaster W4929 H.C.U. crashed on the 5th September 1943 with the loss of all the crew:

Took off from Winthorpe for a night cross country training flight. They flew into a heavy storm over the Brecon Beacons and crashed at 23.20hrs.

Two of the commonwealth crew are buried in Hereford Cemetery (F/O Folkersen R.C.A.F. Fl/Sgt. Buckby R.A.A.F.), Sgt Curran was interred in Bath Cemetery. P/O Duxbury and Sgt Holding are buried in Standish, Wigan. Sgt Wilson is buried in Clitheroe Cemetery, Sgt Pratt at Hemel Hempstead, P/O Johnson D.F.M. was cremated at Woking Crematorium.

Holme Moss : Rain stops play

Incredibly foul weather in defiance of the weather forecast prevented this week's intended excursion on top of Holme Moss to check on the Swordfish, Sabre and Liberator up there.

Mick's still not seen this mast. (Image c/o Wikipedia)

Here's a video of a previous day when we did think it prudent to venture out, despite the wind being sufficient to blow a stream back up the hill. Mick's comment seems to indicate we thought better of our initial judgement.

Afon Goch Waterfall: Llwytmor

Afon Goch Waterfall
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A day out on Llwytmor yesterday, in windy, changeable weather crossed a few elusive items off our list.

The Heinkel and both Botha engines were located, in fact we found too many big bits of Botha to put them all on here.

Hardcore anoraks can see them all on the Flickr site (until I replace them with something new).

Photography is not as good as usual this week, I'm afraid, having to use the mobile, as Mick's camera is out of commission. Normal service will be resumed when he gets a new CCD.

For good or ill, this means more pictures of Mick than usual, as I'm the one with the camera for once...

Heinkel He-111 F4801/IT+EL

Heinkel F4801/IT+EL: Lllwytmor
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

The Heinkel wreck site, found at the third attempt with assistance from Rob TT. As well as the big bits at Mick's feet, there's a lot of molten scattered stuff mixed in with small rocks, as commonly seen at burn-out sites.

There's not much about the 'plane on the 'net, so I'll put a bit of history in for once:

It was a Heinkel 111 of 3/KG28. The plane had been on a bombing run over the docks at Barrow in Furness where it was believed the “Illustrious “ was being repaired. Anti-aircraft guns hit the plane, taking out the radio and compass.

The damaged plane then flew into the side of Llwytmor killing the engineer on 14th April 1941. The remainder of the crew survived the crash and were sent to POW camps in Canada.

Location: SH 68683 69747

More info

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

Aran Fawddwy and Creiglyn Dyfi

Aran Fawddwy and Creiglyn Dyfi
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A day out with Matt ZX yesterday to look at the much pillaged wreck sites of the Beaufighter and Thunderbolt above Creiglyn Dyfi, at the foot of Aran Fawddwy.

This photo doesn't really do justice to the scale of the scenery, or how bright the day was, but both Mick and Matt took some good photos on the day. The Thunderbolt photos on here are from Matt, as Mick's camera packed up. Cheers Matt!

It was a really nice day for a walk, and all bits were found without resorting to the GPS for navigation. Locations were however marked with the GPSr, in the interests of accuracy.

I could go on at some length about the serial looting of these two sites by "farmers", wreckologists, and other magpies, despite no licence to excavate ever being granted AFAIK. I'm not sure however whether I will bother.

Perhaps someone would like to offer comments on just how badly and pointlessly these sites have been illegally cleared?

Bristol Beaufighter TF.X RD210

Beaufighter TF.X RD210
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Highest "oleo strut" undercarriage component found within the gully above the buttress

More info

Bristol Beaufighter TF.X RD210

Beaufighter TF.X RD210
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Some of the extensive wreckage around the impact site.

Location SH 86409 22595