Bristol Beaufighter T.F. Mk.X LX946 of No.304 Ferry Training Unit flew into high ground on Maol Mheadhion approximately 4 miles East of Port Ellen airfield on Islay on the 12th September 1943.
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
|
Kenneth Brant Thomas |
Flying Officer R.C.A.F. |
Pilot |
Killed |
|
James Roy Waldron |
Pilot Officer R.A.F.V.R. |
Navigator |
Killed |
The aircraft was one of a number of Beaufighters whose crews had been tasked with a long distance night cross country exercise, they were taking off at after 03:00, LX946 was recorded as taking off at 03:35 and crashing within less than 5 mintues. Shortly before their turn for take off another aircraft, LZ146, had crashed while turning away from the airfield after take off. It is speculated that this may have distracted Pilot Officer Thomas from his task and as a consequence failed to climb and flew into high ground not far from the airfield killing both airmen.
Flying Officer Kenneth Brant Thomas is buried at Bowmore cemetery a few miles from the crash site.
Part from the aircraft are scattered over a reasonable area on the side of the hill, some are shown above.
With the scattered parts are items like the exhaust collector ring shown above.
Above are more of the panels that litter the site, in the background is Beinn Uraraidh where Firefly WB336 crashed.
On the opposite side of the hill from the main site is one of the aircrafts engines, albeit very stripped down.
Next to the engine is this burst fuel tank.