Fairey Barracuda Mk.II DR306 of No.769 Squadron, Royal Navy, crashed on Whernside near Ribblehead on the 15th December 1945

 

J. R. Crevier Petty Officer Pilot Survived

 

The pilot was on a cross country flight from Rattray when the aircraft struck Whernside in low cloud. The pilot was extremely lucky in that he was able to walk away from the accident.

Wreckage at the crash site of Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, Ribblehead, Yorkshire
Some of the largest remaining parts of the aircraft are shown in this photo, pieces of what appear to be wing structure.
Wreckage at the crash site of Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, Ribblehead, Yorkshire
A fuel tank from the aircraft lying on the moor.
Fuel tank at the crash site of Fairey Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, North Yorkshire
The same part seen in October 2015, with the view towards the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Wreckage at the crash site of Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, Ribblehead, Yorkshire
These parts are all pieces of wing structure and from the amount of alloy flakes in the peat we think this is where one of the wings once lay. There was for many years a wing at the site but this was recovered some time ago. Its ultimate fate is unknown.
Wreckage at the crash site of Fairey Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, North Yorkshire
A second, later, photograph of the same collection of wreckage.
Wreckage from Fairey Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, North Yorkshire
When we first visited the site we saw wreckage built into the nearby dry stone walls, being used as capping, this photograph shows some of the panels in 2015.
Wreckage from Fairey Barracuda DR306 on Whernside, North Yorkshire.
Alongside the walls are other scattered pieces of wreckage, such as these.