Avro Anson Mk.I L7968 of the Central Navigation School crashed near Buxton, on the 15th October 1942 while on a night navigation exercise from RAF Cranage.  

 

Crew / Passengers

Rank -if applicable

Position e.g. Pilot

Status

Paul Joseph Woodcock

Sergeant RAFVR

Pilot

Killed

James Munro Matheson

Sergeant RCAF

Pilot (u/t)

Killed

Richard James Reay

Sergeant RCAF

Pilot (u/t)

Killed

William Gordon Dale

Sergeant RAFVR

Wireless Op. / Air gunner

Killed

 

The crew had been returning to Cranage but had mistaken one of the navigation beacons so instead of flying towards the airfield flew away from it towards the high ground around Buxton.  Before they were able to correct this error the aircraft struck the hillside killing all those on board.

 

Above is the view looking towards where the aircraft crashed, very little was found when we visited the crash site, if the aircraft had been a little higher it would have cleared the hill.

 

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