Avro Anson Mk.I DG787 of the Air Navigation & Bombing School crashed on Corserine in the Rhinns of Kells on the 23rd October 1942

 

Joseph Gerard Millinger Sergeant Pilot Killed
Charles Lunny Sergeant Navigator / Wireless Operator Killed
Vaclav Jelinek Flight Lieutenant (Czech) Navigator (u/t) Killed
Petr Haas Sergeant (Czech) Navigator (u/t) Killed

 

The aircraft was on a night navigation exercise from Jurby on the Isle of Man when it failed to return, after being reported missing nothing more was heard for two days when the Home Guard in the area around the Rhinns of Kells, at the time Kirkcudbrightshire but now Dumfries & Galloway, reported that an aircraft had crashed on one of the mountains in that range to the RAF Mountain Rescue Team at Wigtown. On the 26th a party from No.1 AOS at Wigtown set out to locate the site, which they did quite quickly and brought the bodies of the crew down to Wigtown, subsequently one of the crew was buried at the cemetery used by Wigtown.

Circular scar at the crash site of Avro Anson Mk.I DG787 on Corserine, Rhinns of Kells
The site was cleared off all large wreckage, leaving a scar containing small burnt fragments, pieces of wood and lots of brass hinges bearing Avro stamps.
Largest item, a 24V battery, at the crash site of Avro Anson DG787 on Corserine, Dumfries & Galloway
The only item of any real size is this 24V battery which lies at the lower end of the scar.
Grave of Flight Lieutenant Vaclav Jelinek at Kirkinner Cemetery, Wigtown
Above is a photograph of F/Lt Jelinek’s grave at Kirkinner Cemetery near Wigtown.