Researching historic aviation accidents and locating crash sites in the Peak District & throughout the British Isles
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV L9039 of No.13 OTU RAF, flew into the cliffs of Craig yr Ysfa in the Carneddau 6 miles SSE of Bethesda 8th April 1940
Alfred Ernest Hall
Sergeant
Pilot
Killed
Fred Graham
Sergeant
Observer
Killed
Anthony Charles Catton
Sergeant
Observer
Killed
Geoffrey Halstead James
Leading Aircraftman
Wireless Operator / Air gunner
Killed
The aircraft was on a formation cross country flight with two other Blenheim aircraft when it flew into the top of Craig yr Ysfa, after contact was lost with the crew they were reported missing and a search began. It was the following day before the wrecked aircraft was found. RAF Penrhos recorded the aircraft as having crashed at an altitude of 3000 feet, this is very close to reality as the impact point lies at approximately 2900 feet.
The engines and a number of panels ended up at the foot of the crags, both engines show damage caused by them having rolled down from the impact point.
The image above is made of three photos to show the complete extent of the crash site. The aircraft impacted close to the highest point of the ridge in the centre of the right hand image and wreckage is scattered down to the centre of the left hand image. This is a vertical distance of just over 1000 feet.This image shows the area where the aircraft impacted, the foreground contains a large number of small fragments as more pieces are on the crags to the left hand side of the photo.Towards the base of the gully the aircraft impacted in are both of the propeller hubs, photographs of them are shown above and below.
On the small plateau between the two sets of crags are pieces of the wing spars, undercarriage framework and the core of one of the two Mercury engines. The engine this belongs with is nearly 700 feet lower down the mountain.A closer view of the undercarriage framework from L9039.Above is one of the two engines which are at the very foot of the Craig yr Ysfa. Both engines are remarkably close together considering they both rolled down 1000 feet of crags, this more than likely indicates once they had landed they were moved together with other pieces into a small area where it was then abandoned.This photo is a general overview of where the wreckage lies, mostly around the rocks in the centre.The crew were buried at a number of cemeteries, Sgt Fred Graham was buried at Bury Cemetery on the edge of Manchester.
