Avro Anson Mk.I N5032 of No.1 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, RAF, crashed near Craigencallie on the 1st September 1943
Ronald Hunter McArthur | Sergeant | Pilot | Survived |
Manning | Sergeant | Navigator | Survived |
Crosby | Sergeant | Wireless Operator | Survived |
Sidney Arthur Bussey | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | Killed |
Jack Arthur Coombes | Sergeant | Wireless Operator / Air Gunner | Killed |
The crew were on a night navigation exercise from RAF Wigtown, they were returning to their base but overshot on a northerly heading and flew into high ground to the North of Newton Stewart at around 22:00. After it failed to return to Wigtown the aircraft was declared overdue. At 00:30 on the 2nd September the station’s Medical Officer was informed and he assembled a search party. They met with the local Police in Newton Stewart to begin searching at first light.
The search teams located the crash site at 12:30, by that time Sgt Crosby had, despite head injuries and a broken bone in his right foot, been able to make his own way off the hill, arriving at Craigencallie.



Wedged between the rocks is a rocker cover from one of the engines.
