Crash Sites in Wales

The pilot was carrying out a day cross country exercise from RAF Sealand near Chester, the weather was reported to be low cloud with frequent snow showers. When A/P/O Simpson … Continue reading “1937-02-12|Hart|K4931|No.5 FTS, RAF|Esclusham Mountain, Wrexham”

The crew were on a cross country flight from Harwell to Bardsey Island and back when they entered poor weather over mid-Wales. To the west of Llanidloes P/O MacEwan lost … Continue reading “1938-10-06|Battle|K7589|No.226 Sqn, RAF|Pumlumon Cwmbiga, Powys”

The bodies of the three crew of the aircraft were removed from the crash site by medical personnel from No.11 FTS at RAF Shawbury. They were all buried at St … Continue reading “1940-03-23|Blenheim Mk.IV|L4873|No.90 Sqn, RAF|Foel Wen, Powys”

The aircraft was on a formation cross country flight with two other Blenheim aircraft when it flew into the top of Craig yr Ysfa, after contact was lost with the … Continue reading “1940-04-08|Blenheim Mk.IV|L9039|No.13 OTU, RAF|Craig yr Ysfa, Conwy”

The pilot was ferrying the aircraft when it crashed on the northern end of Esclusham Mountain above Minera near Wrexham. It has been recorded as being ferried from Worthy Down … Continue reading “1941-02-05|Fulmar|N4076|RN|Esclusham Mountain, Wrexham”

There are two accounts of this crash, the first is that the aircraft had attacked the ship yards at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, before turning southwards to return to France. The second, … Continue reading “1941-04-14|Heinkel He111|F/4801 1T+EL|3/KG28, Luftwaffe|Llwydmor, Gwynedd”

The pilot, a 27 year old former accountant from Australia, was part way through his training course at RAF Hawarden prior to being posted to an operational unit. He had … Continue reading “1941-09-26|Spitfire Mk.I|X4843|No.57 OTU, RAF|Yr Aran, Gwynedd”

The de Havilland Queen Bee was a modification of the Tiger Moth bi-plane trainer, it was intended to be used a remotely operated target aircraft. The main modifications were the … Continue reading “1942-02-24|Queen Bee|V4793|No.1 AACU, RAF|Clogwyn Du’r Arrddu, Gwynedd”

The crew of Wellington HX433 were carrying out a fuel consumption test flight from RAF Harwell near Didcot prior to the aircraft being ferried to the Middle East. The weather … Continue reading “1942-05-28|Wellington Mk.IC|HX433|No.1443 (F) Flt, RAF|Mynydd Moel, Gwynedd”

The crew were on a day-time cross county navigation exercise from RAF Lichfield, one leg of the flight took the aircraft from Holyhead to Rhyl. It was thought by the … Continue reading “1942-07-19|Wellington Mk.IC|DV800|No.27 OTU, RAF|Black Ladders, Gwynedd”

The pilot was on a flight from Speke near Liverpool to RAF Valley on Anglesey where he was to take part in an air-to-air firing exercise. He had entered cloud … Continue reading “1942-08-09|Hurricane Mk.I|P3385|MSFU, RAF|Allt-y-Ceffylau, Gwynedd”

The aircraft took off from Polebrook at 10:30 for cross country flight to Burtonwood, it was expected to arrive around 11:00. At 14:00 the aircraft was reported overdue, shortly afterwards … Continue reading “1942-08-11|B-17E|41-9098|97th BG, USAAF|Cadair Berwyn, Powys”

(*) Contemporary records show Pendal as a Flight Sergeant, it is probable that he was due to be promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and this was applied after … Continue reading “1942-08-23|Botha Mk.I|L6318|No.3 SGR, RAF|Tal-y-Fan, Conwy”

# = Known to be 14th FG. The aircraft was being used to transfer personnel of the 14th Fighter Group from the US at the beginning of that unit’s deployment … Continue reading “1942-08-23|C-47A|41-7803|64th TCG, USAAF|Moel-y-Gaer, Denbighshire”

The crew of BD232 were on a night cross country flight from Honeybourne near Evesham in Worcestershire with its outward leg being over Wales and out over the Irish Sea … Continue reading “1942-09-25|Whitley Mk.V|BD232|No.24 OTU, RAF|Foel Fras, Conwy”

The pilot, and aircraft, was among nine pilots who had flown into RAF Llanbedr on the 26th September from Atcham for gunnery practice, swapping places with eight other 14th FG … Continue reading “1942-09-27|P-38F|41-7677|14th FG, USAAF|Harlech Beach, Gwynedd”

The interesting fact that I noticed with the crew was that two of them were navigators, since Air Observer was the term used used for the combined role of navigator … Continue reading “1942-10-17|Boston Mk.III|Z2186|No.418 Sqn, RCAF|Carnedd Dafydd, Gwynedd”

The crew of N4981 were on a cross country training flight from RAF Penrhos on the Lleyn Peninsular near Pwllheli when after only 25 minutes at around 14:35 the aircraft … Continue reading “1942-11-20|Anson Mk.I|N4981|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Moel Eilio, Gwynedd”

The pilot was carrying out target towing duties from Towyn, near Barmouth, when he disappeared. The aircraft was reported overdue and a search initiated, it was a couple of days … Continue reading “1942-11-20|Henley|L3334|No.1605 (TT) Flt, RAF|Craig Cwm Silyn, Gwynedd”

Sergeant Degail took off from RAF Rednal near Oswestry on a local training flight, at some point in the flight his aircraft struck the very top of Cadair Berwyn. He … Continue reading “1942-12-14|Spitfire Mk.IIA|P7295|No.61 OTU, RAF|Cadair Berwyn, Powys”

The aircraft had taken off from RAF Rednal in Shropshire to carry out a search for Spitfire Mk.IIA P7295 which had been lost the day before. The pilot of the … Continue reading “1942-12-15|Lysander Mk.III|T1655|No.61 OTU, RAF|Cadair Bronwen, Wrexham”

The crew of the aircraft were on a night navigation training exercise from RAF Llandwrog near to Caernarfon, while on the return leg from Shrewsbury at 21:00 the aircraft struck … Continue reading “1943-01-14|Anson Mk.I|EG110|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Foel Grach, Conwy”

The crew of Wellington HE466 were on a cross country navigation training flight from RAF Hixon near Stafford when they flew into the north eastern side of Foel Grach in … Continue reading “1943-02-12|Wellington Mk.X|HE466|No.30 OTU, RAF|Foel Grach, Conwy”

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 … Continue reading “1943-03-31|Blenheim Mk.IV|V6099|No.13 OTU, RAF|Elidir Fawr, Gwynedd”

The pilot was on a local flying exercise from Atcham near Shrewsbury with three other P-47s when his aircraft crashed on high ground. The investigating officer found that the fuel … Continue reading “1943-07-18|P-47D|42-7897|6th FW, USAAF|Ffrith Dreborth, Wrexham”

The crew were on a night navigation training exercise from No.464 Sqn’s home station of Methwold in Norfolk. They had taken off during the late evening of the 18th August … Continue reading “1943-08-18|Ventura Mk.I|AE688|No.464 Sqn, RAAF|Carnedd Dafydd, Gwynedd”

The crew where on a daytime navigation training flight from Llandwrog near Caernarvon, during the the return leg from Shrewsbury while in cloud, and shortly before 10:30am, the pilot saw a … Continue reading “1943-08-23|Anson Mk.I|N5371|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Foel Fras, Conwy”

No.11 Radio School at Hooton Park was responsible for the training of new wireless operators through a course of ground school and airborne practice. On the 28th August 1943 L6202 … Continue reading “1943-08-28|Botha Mk.I|L6202|No.11 RS, RAF|Llwytmor, Gwynedd”

The accidents that befell these two aircraft occurred nearly one year apart, however the proximity of the two crash sites to each other prevents positive identification of either site, especially … Continue reading “1943-10-05|Anson Mk.I|LT184|No.7 AOS, RAF|Mynedd Perfedd, Gwynedd”

The aircraft, a brand new Beaufighter Mk.X, was being ferried from the Bristol factory at Weston-Super-Mare to RAF Kirkbride in Cumbria when it dived into the ground on moorland near … Continue reading “1943-11-03|Beaufighter T.F. Mk.X|NE203|No.2 FPP, ATA|World’s End, Wrexham”

The aircraft and crew were stationed at RAF Halfpenny Green to the south west of Wolverhampton. During the evening of the 8th November 1943 to crew of five took off … Continue reading “1943-11-08|Anson Mk.I|N9855|No.3 (O)AFU, RAF|Pen yr Ole Wen, Gwynedd”

The crew were on a night cross country navigation exercise from their home base of Jurby, on the northern plain of the Isle of Man. Most routes flown from Jurby … Continue reading “1943-11-30|Anson Mk.I|EF909|No.5 AOS, RAF|Foel Grach, Conwy”

The aircraft was being delivered from the United States to the UK, its crew had flown across the Atlantic via the Southern route, a route frequently used in the winter … Continue reading “1944-01-07|B-24J|42-99991|8th AF, USAAF|Moelfre, Conwy”

Grumman Avenger Mk.I FN821 / 4K of No.848 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, crashed on Trum y Fawnog near Llangynog on the 3rd February 1944 The aircraft is reported to … Continue reading “1944-02-03|Avenger Mk.I|FN821|No.848 Sqn, RN|Trum y Fawnog, Powys”

During the evening of the 20th February 1944 Oxford X7064 took off from RAF Wrexham with two crew aboard for a night training flight. The flight was authorised as a … Continue reading “1944-02-20 |Oxford Mk.II|X7064|No.11 (P)AFU, RAF|Moel y Gamelin, Denbighshire”

The crew were to fly an hourglass shaped route from Cark on the northern side of Morecambe Bay with three intermediate waypoints before returning to Cark. The first leg was … Continue reading “1944-02-20|Anson Mk.I|LT433|SPTU, RAF|Llyn Cowlyd, Conwy”

The pilot was on a cross country navigation exercise from Andover, his route was Andover – Aberdovey – Bedford – Andover. It was while flying on the first leg of … Continue reading “1944-04-12|P-38J|42-67859|370th FG, USAAF|Olchon Valley, Herefordshire”

The crew of the aircraft were on a night navigation and bombing exercise from RAF Millom in Cumbria. The planned route, to be flown at 2,500ft, was Millom – Beaumaris … Continue reading “1944-04-25|Anson Mk.I|AX583|No.2 (O)AFU, RAF|Drum, Conwy”

The pilot was performing authorised aerobatics and local flying from Atcham near Shrewsbury, he had flown west across mid Wales and during a series of rolls drifted over higher ground. … Continue reading “1944-05-04|P-47D|42-75101|495th FTG, USAAF|Mynydd Copog, Gwynedd”

The accidents that befell these two aircraft occurred nearly one year apart, however the proximity of the two crash sites to each other prevents positive identification of either site, especially … Continue reading “1944-06-08|Anson Mk.I|LT116|No.9 (O)AFU, RAF|Mynedd Perfedd, Gwynedd”

2nd Lt Wahl was on a training flight from RAF Atcham, near Shrewsbury, with two other P-47 aircraft. He was flying in the No.3 position in a line astern formation. … Continue reading “1944-07-08|P-47C|41-6195|495th FTG, USAAF|Aled Isfa, Denbighshire”

The crew of the aircraft were on a night navigation training exercise from RAF Mona on Anglesey (now a satellite to RAF Valley). At approximately 02:00 the aircraft struck Foel … Continue reading “1944-07-12|Anson Mk.I|MG804|No.8 (O)AFU, RAF|Foel Fras, Conwy”

The crew of HX862 were on a night intruder exercise from RAF High Ercall in Shropshire as part of their night-fighter training course. Their briefed route was to take them … Continue reading “1944-09-25|Mosquito F.B. Mk.VI|HX862|No.60 OTU, RAF|Drum, Conwy”

The crew were flying the aircraft from Le Borget airport near Paris to Burtonwood in Cheshire. They had departed at 08:30 (local) on the 11th November with a flight of … Continue reading “1944-11-11|C-47B|43-48473|27th ATG, USAAF|Craig y Dulyn, Conwy”

On the morning of the 13th January 1945 four personnel from No.418 Sqn took off in the unit’s Airspeed Oxford to fly to RAF Abbotsinch near to Glasgow (now the … Continue reading “1945-01-13|Oxford Mk.I|LB537|No.418 Sqn, RCAF|Cornel Min, Conwy”

The aircraft was one of 16 new B-26 Marauders that were being ferried from the USA to the UK where they would have final preparations for combat and be assigned … Continue reading “1945-02-01|B-26G|44-68072|9th AF, USAAF|Y Garn, Gwynedd”

The crew of NE132 were briefed to carry out a night cross country navigation exercise from RAF North Luffenham, near Oakham in Rutland, following a route of just over 700 … Continue reading “1945-02-06|Lancaster Mk.III|NE132|No.1653 HCU, RAF|Foel Ddu, Gwynedd”

Following the end of conflict in Europe US Forces began to return home, some as their period of service came to an end and others in preparation for the expected … Continue reading “1945-06-08|B-17G|44-8639|351st BG, USAAF|Craig Cwm Llwyd, Gwynedd”

The two officers had taken off from RAF Aberporth bound for Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands. When they failed to arrive a search was started with four Spitfires searching … Continue reading “1945-12-21|Martinet T.T. Mk.I|HN888|No.595 Sqn, RAF|Great Rhos, Powys”

It may be of interest that 4 days latter Oxford LX673 of No.21 (P)AFU was lost in a fatal accident in the Peak District.

The aircraft, an ex-RAF (although it had only flown 12 hours 40 minutes in their ownership) Halifax that had been converted for freight use, had been flown by its crew, … Continue reading “1947-12-05|Halifax C. Mk.8|G-AIHU|Lancashire Aircraft Corporation|Cwm Mountain, Denbighshire”

For two weeks during July 1948 No.502 Squadron was on detachment to RAF Horsham St Faith near Norwich for their annual Armament Practice Camp. The exercises had finished at the … Continue reading “1948-07-21|Mosquito T. Mk.III|TV982|No.502 Sqn, RAuxAF|Cwm Llan, Gwynedd”

During the night of the 14th / 15th March 1950 a number of Lincolns took off on cross country exercise from RAF Hemswell and RAF Scampton, one of these aircraft … Continue reading “1950-03-15|Lincoln B. Mk.2|RF511|No.230 OCU, RAF|Carnedd Llewelyn, Gwynedd”

EI-AFL had taken off from Northolt in London on a scheduled passenger service to Dublin with twenty passengers and three crew onboard. The flight took off from Northolt at 17:25 … Continue reading “1952-01-10|Dakota|EI-AFL|Aer Lingus|Cwm Edno, Conwy”

The pilot, 19 year old Fleet Air Arm trainee Robert Armitage, was undergoing advanced flying training at No.7 FTS at RAF Valley, having previously trained on Provosts at No.1 FTS … Continue reading “1956-04-19|Vampire F.B. Mk.5|VV601|No.7 FTS, RAF|Nr Llyn Eigiau, Conwy”

The aircraft was assigned to an RAuxAF Squadron but on the flight that ended in this crash was being flown by a Territorial Army pilot from the Royal Artillery. He … Continue reading “1956-10-21|Auster A.O.P. Mk.6|VF554|No.663 Sqn, RAuxAF|Aber Falls, Gwynedd”

The crew were taking part in testing in conjuction with a Ministry of Supply radar unit positioned on the summit of near by Drum. After completing the test Flt Lt … Continue reading “1957-12-09|Canberra B. Mk.2|WK129|Radar Research Establishment, RAF|Carnedd Llewelyn, Conwy”

The Coastal Command Communications Flight was attached to the Headquarters of RAF Coastal Command to provide transport for staff. On the 20th May 1959 Flight Lieutenant Hart with Flying Officer … Continue reading “1959-05-20|Anson Mk.21|VV955|CCCF, RAF|Foel Lwyd, Conwy”

The crew of Vulcan XH536, from No.9 Squadron, took off at 13:26 on the 11th February 1966 from RAF Cottesmore near Oakham in Rutland for a cross country flight. The … Continue reading “1966-02-11|Vulcan B. Mk.2|XH536|Cottesmore Wing, RAF|Fan Bwlch Chwyth, Powys”

The aircraft had been hired by a member of the flying club at Staverton between Cheltenham & Gloucester to fly to Dublin with a passenger on a business trip. Originally … Continue reading “1969-08-22|Jodel DR250|G-AVIV|Staverton Flying School Ltd|Carnedd Dafydd, Conwy”

The aircraft had been hired to fly from Coventry Airport at Baginton to Ronaldsway on the Isle of Man. The pilot planned a VFR flight and was to fly via … Continue reading “1979-06-08|Cessna 337|G-ATNY|Ron Webster (Midlands) Ltd|Moel Siabod, Conwy”

The aircraft had been hired from Welshpool airfield by Mr Newton, as he had not flown for nearly 11 weeks he was required by the owner, who required flight experience … Continue reading “1999-02-12|Cessna 172M|G-BXLJ|Civil|Moel Sych, Powys”