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.