Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099 of 13 OTU RAF, flew into Elidir Fawr near Llanberis on the 31st March 1943
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
|
Edward Alexander Perry |
Flying Officer (RNZAF) |
Pilot (u/t) |
Killed |
| Geoffrey Ian Gunter | Pilot Officer | Navigator (u/t) |
Killed |
| Henry Applegarth | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | Killed |
The crew of the aircraft were carrying out a day cross country navigation exercise from RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire during the 31st March 1943. At some point during the flight the aircraft struck the northern face of Elidir Fawr not far below the summit of the mountain and was completely destroyed by fire.
The aircraft was listed as missing by its parent unit when it failed to return after the exercise but nothing was found. On the 12th April the wreck was spotted by a civilian and a search team was sent out from RAF Llandwrog to locate the wreck. They failed to find it on the 12th due to low cloud and returned to base after dark. The team retuned on the 13th and located the wreck which they quickly identified as the missing Blenheim.
Very little remains at the crash site today, mostly small pieces of burnt aluminium, the larger parts are sections of steel from the undercarriage and spars such as these.
Above is a section of the steel main spar from the joint between the engine nacelles and the outer wings.
A view from the crash site showing Marchllyn Mawr reservoir in the background.
Image Copyright: Mark Sheldon
While most of the aluminium parts at the crash site have been damaged by fire some, such as this one are relatively undamaged.
On the left side (below and to the right of the upper rivet) is an inspection stamp bearing the mark R2.
This was the code for Rootes Securities, the company which built the aircraft under contract for Bristol.
Two of the crew were buried at Caernarfon cemetery, they were F/O Perry and P/O Gunter
