Avro Anson Mk.I MG804 of No.8 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit crashed on Foel fras in the Carneddau on the 12th July 1944 while on a navigation training flight from Mona on Anglesey

 

Alan Biffen	Flight Sergeant	Pilot	Survived
Albert Francis Standring	Flight Sergeant	Wireless Operator (Instructor)	Killed
Victor Joseph Sibthorpe	Pilot Officer	Navigator	Survived
Dalton	Sergeant	Air Bomber	Survived
Lorrimer	Sergeant	Wireless Operator (Trainee)	Survived

 

The crew of the aircraft were on a night navigation training exercise from RAF Mona on Anglesey (now a satellite to RAF Valley). At approximately 02:00 the aircraft struck Foel fras just below the top of the ridge killing Flight Sergeant Standring and injured the others to varying degrees. Luckily though the wreck did not catch fire, though the wreckage was later disposed of by burning it.

Before long a message was passed to Flying Control at Mona, as the radio equipment was still working after the crashed, they used their D/F equipment to obtain a bearing towards the crash site, this indicated the aircraft was in the Carneddau mountains. This information was passed the Mountain Rescue Unit at RAF Llandwrog

The crash site was located at about 08:30 by the Mountain Rescue Unit, their injuries were treated and then the survivors were led off the mountain. F/Sgt Biffen and Sgt Dalton were taken to Llandudno hospital while P/O Sibthorpe and Sgt Lorrimer were returned to the the Station Sick Quarters at Mona.