Grumman Avenger Mk.II JZ390 of No.763 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, flew into Great Gully above Wastwater in the west of the Lake District on the 16th January 1945 while on a training flight from RNAS Inskip in Lancashire

Grumman Avenger at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton
Grumman Avenger Mk.6 XB446 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, painted to represent a wartime FAA aircraft

 

Bernard John Kennedy RCNVR Lieutenant Pilot Killed
Gordon Fell RNVR Midshipman Navigator Killed
Phillip Royston Mallorie RN Leading Airman Wireless Operator Killed

 

The crew were on a night training flight from RNAS Inskip on the Fylde between Preston and Blackpool and while flying south along the west coast of the Lake District strayed inland and flew into the rock face close to Great Gully above Wastwater killing all three airmen.

Wreckage was spread over a large area of the rock face and screes below, the Mountain Rescue Team from RAF Millom attended and were able to get into the lower parts of Great Gully where most of the wreckage had fallen to.

Crew of Grumman Avenger JZ390, Lieutenant Bernard John Kennedy (front row, centre), Midshipman Gordon Fell (second row, centre), Leading Airman Phillip Royston Mallorie (back row, centre)
The crew of JZ390 together with other aircrew, Lt Kennedy is seated in the centre, Midshipman Fell is standing behind him and Leading Airman Mallorie is standing behind Msm Fell.
Image via: Dave Wrigglesworth
Midshipman Gordon Fell Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, killed in Grumman Avenger JZ390 at Wastwater
Midshipman Gordon Fell.
Image via: Dave Wrigglesworth
Wreckage from the aircraft on the Wastwater Screes below Great Gully
Very little remains today, the actual crash site is high up in Great Gully, which is very difficult and dangerous to access. The only wreckage that remains is in a few small collections on the scree slope below the gully. The engine from the aircraft is in Wastwater in about 30ft of water.