Avro Anson Mk.I DJ472 of No.1 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF, crashed on Caisteal Abhail on the Isle of Arran, 2nd August 1942

 

Hugh Colin Campbell Flight Lieutenant Pilot Killed
Henry Thomas Swain Sergeant Wireless Operator Killed
Reginald Richard Hinton Sergeant, RAAF Observer (u/t) Killed
Gordon Ralph Lewis Sergeant, RCAF Observer (u/t) Killed
Kenneth Walley Leading Aircraftman Observer (u/t) Killed

 

On the 2nd August 1942 Anson DJ472 left RAF Wigtown to the south of Newton Stewart in Galloway for a cross country navigation flight. At about 18:00 while on a leg of the flight from Tiree to Prestwick the aircraft flew into Caisteal Abhail on the Isle of Arran, the second highest mountain on the island, just below its summit. The wreckage came to rest on the southern side of the ridge where it was destroyed by the ensuing fire.

Crash site of Avro Anson DJ472 on Caisteal Abhail on the Isle of Arran
Taken looking down onto the crash site from the summit tor of Caisteal Abhail, the aircraft struck the top of the ridge in the foreground of the photograph and burnt out where the large scar is visible on the near side of the ridge. It approached from right to left.

At the time of the crash the mountains of Arran were obscured by low cloud which across the region ranged from a base of as little as 1,000ft to 3,500ft. These should not have presented much of a danger had the aircraft been on the correct track, however it was nearly 8 miles south of the direct track from TIree to Prestwick which had the aircraft crossing the high ground of Arran which at the crash site is just over 2,800ft above sea level.

Crash site of Avro Anson DJ472 on Caisteal Abhail, Isle of Arran
This is the top end of the scar looking roughly south towards Goatfell, the highest of Arran’s mountains.
Wreckage at the crash site of Avro Anson DJ472 on Caisteal Abhail on the Isle of Arran
In the scar and scattered nearby are some small pieces of the aircraft, these items were behind one of the rocks on the edge of the scar.
Crash site of Avro Anson DJ472 on Caisteal Abhail, Isle of Arran
This photograph is taken looking back towards the crash site from a short way south of the summit on one of the adjacent granite tors the scar at the crash site and a second scar can be seen on the steep slope leading down into Glen Sannox. Some small pieces were found on the steep ground below there but the trail was not followed too far down.

Four of the five crew of the aircraft were buried at Kirkinner Cemetery close to RAF Wigtown, the fifth was buried in North London. Below are the graves of those buried at Kirkinner.

Grave of Flight Lieutenant Hugh Colin Campbell at Kirkinner Cemetery, Dumfries and Galloway
Flight Lieutenant Hugh Campbell
Grave of Sergeant Reginald Richard Hinton, Royal Australian Air Force at Kirkinner Cemetery, Dumfries and Galloway
Sergeant Reginald Hinton, RAAF
Grave of Sergeant Gordon Ralph Lewis, Royal Canadian Air Force at Kirkinner Cemetery, Dumfries and Galloway
Sergeant Gordon Lewis, RCAF
Grave of Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Whalley at Kirkinner Cemetery, Dumfries and Galloway
Leading Aircraftman Kenneth Whalley