Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8424 crashed on Snaefell on the 8th October 1941

Vickers Wellington Mk.X at the Royal Air Force Museum

 

Kenneth Meryl Seeds First Officer Pilot Killed

First Officer Seeds, of Burley Idaho, was attached to No.8 Ferry Pilots’ Pool at Sydenham near Belfast.  On the 8th October 1941 he was detailed to fly Wellington Z8424 from Vickers Armstrong’s Hawarden factory near Chester to No.23 MU at Aldergrove.  He took off at 17:30 and set course for Aldergrove, as the aircraft neared the Isle of Man it entered a large bank of cloud.  Shortly after the aircraft ploughed in Snaefell not far from the summit killing the sole occupant and destroying the aircraft.

This was the fifth aircraft to crash on the island on the 8th October 1941, four Hurricanes of No.133 (Eagle) Sqn having been lost earlier in the day.

Crash site of Wellington Z8424 on Snaefell, Isle of Man - Copyright Peak District Air Accident Research
Above is a photo of the crash site of Z8424, the aircraft lay just in front of the skyline. This photo replicates one taken at the time which is displayed in the M.A.P.S. museum at Ronaldsway. This museum is worth a visit during a visit to the island.
Scrap of wreckage found at the crash site of Wellington Z8424 on Snaefell, Isle of Man - Copyright Peak District Air Accident Research
Above is the sole piece of the aircraft that I found, this was underneath a rock at the crash site.
Grave of Kenneth Seeds at Jurby churchyard, killed onboard Wellington Z8424 on Snaefell, Isle of Man - Copyright Peak District Air Accident Research
First Officer Seeds was buried at Jurby churchyard.