Westland Lysander Mk.III T1655 of No.61 OTU, crashed on Cadair Bronwen

Westland Lysander at the Royal Air Force Museum

 

 

Douglas Harvey Walder Acting Flight Lieutenant Pilot Killed

The aircraft had taken off from RAF Rednal in Shropshire to carry out a search for Spitfire Mk.IIA P7295 which had been lost the day before. The pilot of the Lysander located the crashed Spitfire and flew low over it before crossing over the head of the valley to the north of Cadair Berwyn. It was while over the head of that valley that the aircraft was caught by a strong down-draught caused by the wind blowing over the ridge to the west. Flt Lt Walder lost control of the aircraft which crashed into a stream between Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen.

Area where Westland Lysander T1655 crashed between Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen
This photo shows the area where T1655 crashed, I searched for any remains from the aircraft, but the aircraft crashed in a stream which in the past few years has suffered a flash flood which removed the crash site entirely.
Bristol Mercury engine from Westland Lysander T1655 crashed between Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen on display at the Wartime Aicraft Recovery Group museum at Sleap aerodrome in Shropshire
Before the site was destroyed by erosion the aircraft’s Bristol Mercury engine was recovered from the hill and taken to the Wartime Aircraft Recovery Group’s museum at Sleap Aerodrome at Wem in Shropshire.