Douglas Dakota Mk.III KG502 of No.1383 Transport Conversion Unit, RAF, crashed on Cold Fell near Castle Carrock, Cumbria, on the 3rd February 1946.
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - if applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
|
John Dennis Taylor |
Flying Officer |
Pilot |
Killed |
| Wilfred Donald Reeve | Warrant Officer |
Pilot (u/t) |
Killed |
| Francis William Knowles | Flying Officer | Navigator (Instructor) |
Killed |
| Grant Taylor Wardle | Sergeant | Navigator (u/t) |
Killed |
| Alan George Frederick Gravestock | Warrant Officer | Wireless Operator (Instructor) | Killed |
| Thomas Delwyn | Flight Sergeant | Wireless Operator (u/t) | Killed |
The crew of the aircraft, who were stationed at RAF Crosby-on-Eden, were undertaking a night cross country navigation exercise. They had taken off in the evening of the 2nd February. While returning to the air station at around 02:00 on the 3rd the aircraft struck the north western ridge of Cold Fell some 7 miles from the airfield. The remains of the aircraft were then destroyed by an intense fire.
Parts from G-AMVC as gathered up into a number of pits, this is the one that contains most wreckage. When walking around on the moss you can hear the crunching of metal so parts from the aircraft are buried all over the site.
A view of another of the pits.
Small fragments of metal in the scree where the aircraft crashed.
The crew were buried at various cemeteries across the country, below is Sgt Wardle's grave at Chester (Blacon) Cemetery.
He is recorded in the records of 1383 TCU as Sgt and F/Sgt by CWGC.
Flight Sergeant Thomas was buried at Wrexham Cemetery, below is a photograph of his grave.
Also that of his wife and her second husband, Edith and John Henry Percival.
