Lancaster W4864 of 460 Sqn RAF Breighton

A run out to find the crash site of Lancaster W4864 of 460 Sqn R.A.A.F , RAF Breighton The bomber was on a cross country training flight on the 3 March 1943 and on the return leg over Oxford the bomber made a course change this was most likely due a technical issue with the DR master navigation compass which could lock during evasive action something the crew would have practiced that night and sent the bomber off course by 45 degrees R.O.C reported the plane over Kidderminster and later RAF Shawbury, sadly the pilot tried for an approach but missed and in turning at low altitude hit one of the tall trees [the one on the right ] and broke up in the grounds of Acton Reynolds girl's school with the loss of all 7 crew the time 00.10 hrs no radio contact was made with the planes crew during the flight though many attempts were made to raise them .
The field looks quiet and undisturbed by the tragic events of that night more so by the cows but the trees stunted and damaged shape bears testament to the force of the crash
Crew
Sgt E.C. Fulton
Sgt R.Oldfield
Sgt R.C.Graham
Sgt E.F.Murphy
Sgt R.W.Kerr
Sgt T.P.G.Milledy
Sgt P.F.Bacon

Halifax B.MkIII LK835 51 Squadron, Snaith, Yorkshire , 22 May 1944 , Blaenavon , south Wale

 Back from a few days in South Wales where i was lucky to visit the crash site of Halifax B.MkIII  this bomber flying a cross country training mission from 51 Squadron, Snaith, Yorkshire on the 22 May 1944 suffered an engine failure and runaway prop / eventual fire the crew of 7 all bailed out leaving the bomber to its fate in the bog above Blaenavon , south Wales where to this day much of the plane remains well beyond practical and financial recovery.
On my visit I was very lucky as a good few weeks of dry weather left the surrounding bog very firm so I could visit without too much trouble sadly much of the surface remains have been removed and attempts have been made to get to the middle of the crash site to dig about using old planks?? something i wouldn't even try to entertain as this crash site is on very unstable and deep bog.

Crew =
Sgt A.S Jones
Sgt D.Bibby
Sgt E.W.J Luff
Sgt J.Brown
Sgt T.Minns
F/O G.Cowd
Sgt A.G Westbrook

P-47 42-22758 Pendle Hill Lancashire

 A full and very wet day on Pendle Hill Lancashire To see what i could find of P-47 42-22758 which crashed on the 6th February 1944 during a ferry flight from East Wretham to Warton , the plane one of 5 in the flight hit the slopes in poor weather after possibly running out of fuel with the sad loss of F/O J.R.Runnells another of the flight piloted by Cpt C Francis crashed short of landing at Warton [L.A.I.T website site has a great article on this loss and others worth a look ]
After a tramp and a dam good soaking the site was hidden under some impressive foliage but close to the area in a bit churned by sheep I found this small piece of hose clip so happy something showed itself of this loss .
Then on to Darwin to find the memorial to Spitfire Mk Va R7219 'Borough of Darwen' Pilot Sgt W M Lamberton [POW] lost over France on the July 14, 1941, 4 months after its introduction into service which is a bout as long as it took to raise the £5,707 she cost

Cherokee Warrior II, G-BSXB Halfpenny Green , 2017

 On way back from seeing off Tricia Quinlan on her way home so popped past Halfpenny Green to see if i could find the crash site of Cherokee Warrior II, G-BSXB a bit new as in last year but interesting to be able to look at new site of a very old type of accident both crew were fine but the plane was wrecked just a few bits of broken plastic left in the field

Avro Anson N5019, 15 OTU Y Gamriw , Elan valley Wales 10/07/1940

 From today's trip out on Eli to see what remains of Avro Anson N5019, 15 OTU which crashed High above the Elan valley , Wales on the slopes of Y Gamriw during a night training flight at 23.30 hrs on the 10/07/1940 the accident report shows that the crew had been passed a report by a ground observer that they were over England and clear of high ground sadly not they were still deep in the mountains, of the 5 crew 4 lost their lives in the crash the surviving crew member a Sgt A. Smith crawled badly injured down the mountain and found help

 At the site a shallow burn area with a few larger bits of panel remain after a surface search some more recognizable little bits were seen , lower down the slope there are a few more remains

Lost on N5019
Sgt C J. DENT
Sgt H. Hannan
P/O T C. Watson
Sgt A. Williams

Mustang III SR 411 , Darwen Lancashire

 Yesterdays trip out on the Triumph with Tricia  to find the crash site of Mustang III SR 411 which crashed on Darwen moor Above the town of Darwen , Lancashire on the 29th July 1945 , the plane being flown by PAF pilot Herbert Noga , 316 Squadron RAF Coltishall was on a cross country [Thanks Alan Clarke for update on flight info  ] when in hazy visibility it stuck the moor land and broke up with the sad loss of Noga .
On the moor there still are a few remains in a shallow crater and a small memorial to the pilot even after a few digs by different groups some things still remains buried and in the wall of the crater i found this electrical item ? I left it in its resting place such A lovely place with such a sad story but well worth a visit

Miles Master Mk 1 T8824 5SFTS RAF Tern hill ,20th of April, 1941

 A visit to near R.A.F Tern Hill to find the crash site of Miles Master Mk 1 T8824 5SFTS Tern hill the plane flew into the ground during a solo night flying exercise on the 20th of April, 1941 at 22.30 hrs, it was the pilots first night solo just after take off the plane entered a left turn during which the pilot allowed the aircraft to loose height the plane hit the roof of Gallantry House demolished the well head in the Garden and broke up on the rising ground behind the house narrowly missing an anti aircraft gun on the hill with the loss of the 20 year old pilot whose body was recovered from the Garden .
The pilot Sgt Gaston Jean C Vandebos RAFVR had volunteered after escaping Belgium was buried locally then his remains were repatriated after the war to Cimetière du Sud, Tournai