Peak District Air Accident Research

Douglas C-47B 43-48473 of the 27th Air Transport Group flew into the cliffs above Llyn Dulyn in the Carneddau while flying form Le Bourget to Burtonwood on the 11th November 1944.

On nearing Burtonwood the crew were informed that the airfield was closed due to bad weather and that they should divert to Valley, they acknowledged but never arrived at their destination. It was not until the 22nd November that the wreck was located by an RAF radio unit which was carrying out maintenance on a warning beacon on Foel Grach.

The crash site is located high up on the cliffs in this photograph. Due to its position, without the proper equipment approaching it is extremely dangerous (one false move and it is 500ft to the lake).

During the autumn of 1972 parts of the aircraft were recovered from Llyn Dulyn by the Warplane Wreck Investigation Group and the West Bromwich Underwater Exploration Club. One of the items recovered was the tail fin of the aircraft. It went on display at the WWIG's museum, which is currently located at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton. Below is a photograph of the fin taken in the early 90s, it may not be there as there have been a number of changes in the past few years at Perch Rock.

Image Copyright: Mark Sheldon.

Above is a photograph of the Flight engineer, Staff Sergeant Kirk McLoren on his wedding day.

Many thanks to Kirk McLoren Jnr for the photo.

Two of the crew were buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, these were S/Sgt McLoren and Cpl Levitski.

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