Report - Aircraft Wrecks in the Peak District - July 2020 (PIC HEAVY)

[Scoobysrt]

Im not sure of any of those details cj, I thought all the Kennedys were assassinated, ill have a look into it but I only did the peaks, not even found my maps yet.

 

[Scoobysrt]

The Kennedy curse: Tragedy in the skies over Suffolk

Suffolk has a tragic link with the Kennedy clan – a fireball in the skies above the county probably even triggering JFK’s entry into politics.…

www.eadt.co.uk

 

[Calamity Jane]

The Kennedy curse: Tragedy in the skies over Suffolk

Suffolk has a tragic link with the Kennedy clan – a fireball in the skies above the county probably even triggering JFK’s entry into politics.…

www.eadt.co.uk

Ah so I partly right. Ive explored alot around Woodbridge and was sure Id read the connection. But the crash site was wrong. Cheers Scoobs

 

[Airfix]

Epic report with amazing photographs and history.

 

[nickipixie]

PART FOUR

13. BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT Mk.I N3378, BLEAKLOW STONES
No.255 Sqdn. RAF
Interceptor aircraft used during the Second World War. Was replaced by the de Havilland Mosquito as, being a turret fighter, it lacked forward-firing armament. 1064 were built.

Pilot Officer James Craig Pilot Killed
Aircraftsman George Hempstead Passenger Killed

On the 19th August 1941 this aircraft struck the ground while flying in low cloud. The pilot was returning to duty from leave which he had spent in Edinburgh. The aircraft took off from RAF Turnhouse on the edge of Edinburgh and intended to follow the coast to Lincolnshire where their destination was to have been RAF Hibaldstow near Scunthorpe. It is speculated that the aircraft may had come under fire from a Spitfire that was operating in the Durham area, but this has never been proven. The aircraft was missing for over a month before being located. A pile of parts marks the highest extant of the site with parts scattered downhill from there. Approximately 50ft lower down there is an area of bare peat containing small fragments where the aircraft first impacted the moor. Substantial parts including the complete tail section were recovered from the site between the 1970s and 1990s and may be seen at The Boulton Paul Heritage Museum in Wolverhampton.

14. DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 42-108982, SHELF MOOR, BLEAKLOW
314th Troop Carrier Group, USAF
Also known as a Dakota, was a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian DC-3 airliner. 10174 were built.

1st Lieutenant George Johnson Pilot Killed
1st Lieutenant Earl Burns Co-Pilot Killed
1st Lieutenant Beverly Izlar Navigator Killed
Sergeant Theodore McCrocklin Crew Chief Killed
Sergeant Francis Maloney Radio Operator Killed
Corporal Grover Alexander Passenger Killed
Leading Aircraftsman (RAF) John Main Passenger Killed

On the 24th July 1945 this aircraft flew into Shelf Moor while on an administrative flight from Leicester East, currently Leicester Airport, to Renfrew, Glasgow. All seven members of aircrew and passengers were killed. Wreckage is widely scattered with small remains where the aircraft crashed and longer sections strewn down the steep slope down into Ashton Clough. A substantial section of main undercarriage lies near the top and a large section of the fuselage can be found slowly being crushed by sand and gravel in the Clough. Further down is one of the two engines. The other engine disappeared in flash flooding in 2002 and is possibly now buried much lower down.

Congratulations on making it to the end

These are amazing ive been to the b29 twice and looked for the lancaster but never realised there is a dakota up there as well back to google earth and go back.
....cheers for sharing

 

[mikecawood]

PART FOUR

13. BOULTON PAUL DEFIANT Mk.I N3378, BLEAKLOW STONES
No.255 Sqdn. RAF
Interceptor aircraft used during the Second World War. Was replaced by the de Havilland Mosquito as, being a turret fighter, it lacked forward-firing armament. 1064 were built.

Pilot Officer James Craig Pilot Killed
Aircraftsman George Hempstead Passenger Killed

On the 19th August 1941 this aircraft struck the ground while flying in low cloud. The pilot was returning to duty from leave which he had spent in Edinburgh. The aircraft took off from RAF Turnhouse on the edge of Edinburgh and intended to follow the coast to Lincolnshire where their destination was to have been RAF Hibaldstow near Scunthorpe. It is speculated that the aircraft may had come under fire from a Spitfire that was operating in the Durham area, but this has never been proven. The aircraft was missing for over a month before being located. A pile of parts marks the highest extant of the site with parts scattered downhill from there. Approximately 50ft lower down there is an area of bare peat containing small fragments where the aircraft first impacted the moor. Substantial parts including the complete tail section were recovered from the site between the 1970s and 1990s and may be seen at The Boulton Paul Heritage Museum in Wolverhampton.

14. DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 42-108982, SHELF MOOR, BLEAKLOW
314th Troop Carrier Group, USAF
Also known as a Dakota, was a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian DC-3 airliner. 10174 were built.

1st Lieutenant George Johnson Pilot Killed
1st Lieutenant Earl Burns Co-Pilot Killed
1st Lieutenant Beverly Izlar Navigator Killed
Sergeant Theodore McCrocklin Crew Chief Killed
Sergeant Francis Maloney Radio Operator Killed
Corporal Grover Alexander Passenger Killed
Leading Aircraftsman (RAF) John Main Passenger Killed

On the 24th July 1945 this aircraft flew into Shelf Moor while on an administrative flight from Leicester East, currently Leicester Airport, to Renfrew, Glasgow. All seven members of aircrew and passengers were killed. Wreckage is widely scattered with small remains where the aircraft crashed and longer sections strewn down the steep slope down into Ashton Clough. A substantial section of main undercarriage lies near the top and a large section of the fuselage can be found slowly being crushed by sand and gravel in the Clough. Further down is one of the two engines. The other engine disappeared in flash flooding in 2002 and is possibly now buried much lower down.

Congratulations on making it to the end

 

[mikecawood]

I found those photos very moving. R.I.P. the airmen and civilians.

 

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

Taking advantage of the last warm weekend of the year, I recently travelled up again to try and find ones that I couldn't find first time round and also to try a couple of ones that I never initially had time for.

Eight wrecks, done over two exhausting days:

1. Avro Lancaster NF908, The Roaches, Leek, Staffordshire

WW2-era British four-engined heavy bomber

No.467 Squadron RAF, Crashed 3rd January 1945

Flying Officer RAAF Walter Allamby Pilot Killed
Sergeant RAFVR Norman Lees Flight Engineer Killed
Flight Lieutenant RAAF Jack Pritchard Navigator Killed
Flight Sergeant RAAF Geoffrey Dunbar Bomb Aimer Killed
Flight Sergeant RAAF Richard Emonson Wireless Operator Killed
Flight Sergeant RAAF Thomas Wright Air Gunner Killed
Flight Sergeant Cleveland Watson Air Gunner Killed

On the 3 January 1945, this aircraft crashed at dusk in poor weather while on a fighter affiliation exercise from RAF Waddington near Lincoln. Small items are scattered around a sizeable scar on the eastern side of the ridge. Exploded .303 rounds are said to be found, though the number of these has diminished greatly in the last few years. The entire crew of NF908 were laid to rest at Chester’s Blacon cemetery. Note that most of the crew were Australian.

This scar lies closest to the top of the ridge, a few metres above the main scar, and contains a few small bits of molten aluminium

The main scar, containing gathered lumps of molten aluminium

Bits of wreckage can found further down the slope, which I found on my first trip in July. It was the higher up scars that I had to return for in September.

2. Junkers Ju88A-5 F1+AD, Black Brook, The Roaches, Staffordshire

WW2-era German twin-engined multirole combat aircraft

German Luftwaffe Stab III.KG76, crashed night of 7th/8th May 1941

Major Dietrich von Ziehlberg Pilot Killed
Oberleutnant Walter Lemke Observer Killed
Oberfeldweber Rudolf Schwalbe Radio Operator Killed
Feldweber Georg Mahl Gunner Killed

On the night of the 7th/8th May 1941, this aircraft was one of a number tasked with bombing Liverpool. This plane was flown by Major D.H. Von Ziehlberg who had flown nearly 70 missions and had been awarded the Iron Cross. The crew had arrived at their target, where the weather was fine with good visibility, and had dropped their bomb load before turning back for France. After turning back, the aircraft’s wireless operator broadcasted a message to the other aircraft that they had been hit and were on fire. The crew were in the process of abandoning the aircraft when it flew into the hillside above Black Brook at Roach's End. All four crew members were killed. The crew of the aircraft were all initially buried locally, and post war were moved to the German Military Cemetery at Cannock Chase.

3. Short Stirling N6075 Merryton Low, Leek, Staffordshire

WW2-era British four-engined heavy bomber

No.101 Squadron RAF, Crashed 13th July 1942

Sergeant Roderick Morrison Pilot Killed
Flight Sergeant RCAF John Williams Observer Killed
Sergeant John Williams Flight Engineer Killed
Sergeant William Atkins Flight Engineer Killed
Flight Sergeant RCAF Thorstein Helgesen Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Killed
Flight Sergeant RCAF James Hirst Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Killed
Sergeant de Section RCAF Leo Regimbal Air Gunner Killed
Sergeant Edgar Dolphin Passenger Killed

On the 13th July 1942, this aircraft crashed in very low visibility into Merryton Low, some 200ft vertically below the trig point, while on a day time cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire. Seven members of crew and a passenger were killed. Four of the crew members were Canadians. A small memorial can be found at the site which is close to the head of the streams that flow down to Upper Hulme and into the River Churnet.

4. Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 43-38944 Birchenough Hill, Wildboarclough, Cheshire

1930s and WW2-era American four-engined heavy bomber

Assigned to 1st Base Air Depot at Burtonwood, on delivery to the 398th Bombardment Group, United States Air Force, crashed 2nd January 1945

1st Lieutenant Donald de Cleene Pilot Killed
2nd Lieutenant Maynard Stravinski Co-pilot Killed
Flight Officer Thomas Manos Navigator Killed
Technical Sergeant Howard Ayers Radio Operator Killed
Technical Sergeant Frank Garry Engineer Killed

On the 2nd January 1945, this aircraft was on a ferry flight from Burtonwood near Warrington, Cheshire, to Nuthampstead near Royston in Hertfordshire when it flew into the top of Birchenough Hill in fairly clear weather. All five crew members were killed. A stone marker and wooden memorial with a few fragments of aluminium can be found where the aircraft impacted on the hill. Not far away is a scar where the aircraft burned, containing more small parts.

The wreckage of two Supermarine Seafires (the Royal Navy version of the Spitfire) are said to lie just 400m away from this Flying Fortress. Despite two attempts on two different trips, using allegedly reliable grid references, having seen online photos and having read acounts of the incident, I was unable to find

 

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

5. Airspeed Oxford NM683, Rushup Edge, Edale

1930s and WW2-era British twin-engined monoplane aircraft used for training aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles

Pathfinder Force navigation Training Unit, RAF, crashed 4th March 1945

Acting Flight Lieutenant RAFVR Brian Gibson DFC Pilot Injured
Acting Flight Lieutenant RAFVR Douglas Jones DFC 2nd Pilot Injured
Flight Liutenant RAAF William Barclay DFC Navigator Injured
Flying Officer RAFVR Victor Skone-Rees DFC Air Bomber Injured

On the 4th March 1945, this aircraft crashed while the pilot was attempting to fly below cloud cover on a cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire. It flew into the Edale valley and with the hills on either side obscured by cloud and rising ground directly ahead, the pilot either attempted to climb out or turn within the valley before striking the hillside. All members of crew survived. Stainless steel brackets and undercarriage mounts from the main wing-spar lie in a scar on the side of the gully a short way from the Chapel Gate track. It is worth this noting that this was a very experienced crew, all holding Distinguished Flying Crosses piror to this accident.

6. De Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ALBC, Kinder Scout, Edale

1930s developed British short-haul biplane airliner

Crashed 30th December 1963

Captain Dennis Holmes Pilot Injured
Mr John McWhirter Co-pilot Injured

On the 30th December 1963, this civil aircraft was caught by a downdraught while flying from Middleton St. George, near Darlington, to Ringway, Manchester. The aircraft was returning from a photographic survey flight. Both the pilot and the co-pilot survived. A single engine block, stripped of all its removable parts, various aluminium panels and parts of the wooden structure of the aircraft remain at the site.

Detail of the wooden struts

Glass seen at the crash site

7. Handley Page Heyford K6875, Broadlee Bank Tor, Edale

1930s British twin-engine biplane bomber

No.166 Squadron RAF, crashed 22nd July 1937

Sergeant Newton Baker Pilot Killed
Sergeant Patrick McMillan Co-pilot Killed
Sergeant James Barker Crewman Killed
Aircraftsman 1st Class Eric McDonald Crewman Killed
Aircraftsman 1st Class William Grey Wireless Operator Killed
Aircraftsman 2nd Class Ernest Musker Crewman Killed

On the 22nd July 1937 this Heyford crashed while on a night cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Leconfield near Beverley in Yorkshire. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was approximately 13 miles off course. All six aircrew were killed. Only a few steel struts and small parts remain at the site close to a wall that runs around the edge of the hill. In 1975 officer cadets from RAF Henlow recovered, as part of a training exercise, parts of the tailplane structure and the propellor which are now in store with the RAF museum. No Heyfords remain today, not even any on static display, and these recovered parts are said to be only remaining parts anywhere of any Heyford.

08

8. Consolidated B-24J Liberator 42-52003, Mill Hill, Glossop

WW2-era American four-engined heavy bomber

310th Ferry Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group, United States Air Force, crashed 11th October 1944

2nd Lieutenant Creighton Houpt Pilot Injured
Staff Sergeant Jerome Najvar Flight Engineer Injured

On the 11th October 1944 this aircraft was being ferried from Burtonwood near Warrington to Hardwick approximately 10 miles south of Norwich. The engineer reported that the pilot flew too low following take-off, only beginning to climb shortly before the crash which occurred in very limited visibility. Both members of aircrew on board survived. The site has a number of widely spread sections. Two large sections of wing and an engine can be found in a gully next to the path from the Grouse Inn. While a further wing section with undercarriage still attached, along with two engines and the other main undercarriage leg, is at the main site a little to the north. A plaque at the site, states that tragically a member of the local Mountain Rescue Team died here recently whilst on a call-out.

02

12

Thanks for reading, and that's me done with the Peak District for the year. Time to hibernate for the winter.

 

[trikey]

Superbly done, thanks for documenting these so well.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Bloody hell Bertie, you turned a stunning report into a very noteworthy report. This would be great as a book of remembrance, or a piece in a history book. Its sad, yet we remember. R.I.P all.

 

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

Going to add a few more because I never thought I would get back to the hills. Falling off a cliff last October breaking my femur and turning my hip joint into powder, I thought I would never walk again never alone getting back into the hills. Nine months on, following hundreds of hours of physio and strength exercises, here we are... this batch all from the Manchester/ Holmfirth area done over two days in early June 2021:


1. VICKERS WELLINGTON Mk.IC R1011 BIRCHEN BANK MOSS
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined long-range medium bomber of the Second World War. A key feature of the aircraft was its geodetic airframe structure designed by Barnes Wallis of Dambusters fame. It was the principal night bomber in the early years of the war but superseded from 1943 by the larger four-engined Avro Lancaster.

On the 30th January 1943 this aircraft of No.28 OTU was on a night cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Wymeswold near Loughborough. This aircraft was one of three aircraft lost in the region that night due to the weather, though the other two crashed in lower lying areas. Three of the five crew were killed in the crash. Today a small pile of parts and sections of geodetic framework have been gathered together at the site. A post with a ceramic plaque can also be seen.

Flying Officer Anthony Lane Pilot Killed
Pilot Officer Charles Brown Bomb Aimer Killed
Pilot Officer Charles Grisdale Navigator Injured
Sergeant Raymond Rouse Air Gunner Killed
Sergeant Miller Wireless Operator Injured

2. AVRO LANCASTER Mk.I PA411 RHODES HILL, TINTWHISTLE
The Avro Lancaster was a British Second World War four-engined heavy bomber designed by the engineer Roy Chadwick and became the principal RAF heavy bomber in the later half of the war. A long unobstructed bomb bay meant that the bomber could carry a huge bomb load relative to other aircraft of the era such as the Handley Page Halifax or the Short Stirling. The Lancaster was principally used for night missions.

On the 21st December 1948 this aircraft of No.230 Operational Conversion Unit flew into the western side of Rhodes Hill while on a night cross-country exercise from RAF Lindholme near Doncaster. All seven members of aircrew were killed. Various undercarriage struts, engine reduction gears and sections of propeller hubs can be found strewn down the rocky slope. Sections of armour plate have recently disappeared from the site.

Flight Sergeant Jack Thompson Pilot Killed
Flight Lieutenant Peter Maskell Navigator Killed
Flight Sergeant Robert Smith Signaller Killed
Flight Sergeant Vincent Graham Flight Engineer Killed
Sergeant William Love Signaller Killed
Flight Lieutenant Thomas Johnson Instructor Killed
Flight Sergeant David Harris Instructor Killed

3. CONSOLIDATED B-24H LIBERATOR 42-94841 TWIZLE HEAD MOSS
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber produced in large numbers during the Second World War. Over 18000 of these aircraft were built, the most for any military aircraft. It was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theatre. Amongst high command it was preferred over the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress due to its long range but was not popular amongst crews, who preferred the B-17 and was known as the 'flying coffin' due to being relatively difficult to fly and with only one exit from the aircraft.

On the 9th October 1944 this USAAF aircraft of the 857th Bombardment Squadron, 492nd Bombardment group, was on a cross-country training flight from its home station at Harrington, near Kettering. The route was to have been Base – Goole – Huddersfield – Stafford – Builth Wells – Worcester – Banbury – Base. After arriving in the Huddersfield area, the pilot turned the aircraft towards Stafford. The aircraft had drifted by half a mile to the west but was otherwise on course. While flying at 1600ft the aircraft struck the northern edge of Twizle Head Moss above Holmfirth. The aircraft disintegrated over a short distance and caught fire. Nine of the ten aircrew and passengers on board were killed in the crash. The centre section was completely gutted by the fire, and such was the severity of the blaze that the body of a passenger was never found. The survivor had been thrown out of the aircraft when it crashed but was very badly injured. At the site where the aircraft burned out, there is one of the two undercarriage legs and many small fragments. A short way down the moor is the second undercarriage leg, although this one has been cut into two sections. A wreckage trail can be followed for a couple of hundred of metres.

1st Lieutenant Elmer Pitsenberger Pilot Killed
2nd Lieutenant James Nendel Co-pilot Killed
Flight Officer Jack Bliss Navigator Killed
Flight Officer Frank Cser Bombardier Killed
Technical Sergeant Presley Farris Engineer Killed
Technical Sergeant Joe Zwinge Radio Operator Killed
Technical Sergeant Frank Villelli Gunner (Tail) Killed
Staff Sergeant Curtis Anderson Gunner (Waist) Injured
Corporal Charles Lowbald Passenger Killed
Corporal Clarence Watson Passenger Killed (Missing)

4. FAIREY SWORDFISH Mk.I P4223 HEYDON HEAD, BLACK HILL
The Fairey Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber, designed in the early 1930s, and operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. Despite being a rather primitive aircraft that looks like something out of the First World War it was used throughout World War Two and achieved spectacular successes such as the attack on the HMS Bismarck which led to her sinking, the battle of Narvik and the sinking of a battleship during the Battle of Taranto.

On the 25th January 1940 this aircraft of No.751 Squadron Royal Navy became separated from the rest of the flight while ferrying from Silloth near Carlisle to RNAS Ford in West Sussex. In extremely bad winter weather, the pilot is assumed to have descended to ascertain his position and struck high ground. The pilot was killed. The wreck was missing for a month before enough snow cleared for the wreck to become visible from the nearest road. The site is somewhat depleted. A small collection of fragments including cowling panels and some steel struts have been gathered into a pile in the gully next to where the aircraft crashed.

Sub Lieutenant Gerald Williamson Pilot Killed

 

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

5. GLOSTER METEORS F.Mk.8 VZ518 AND WA791 SLIDDENS MOSS
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies only jet fighter to achieve combat operations during World War II. It's turbojet engines were pioneered by the engineer Frank Whittle. The Meteor first flew in 1943 and commenced operations in July 1944. As it was felt that a downed Meteor would had given away the technology to the Germans, it was never used over occupied Europe and mainly had the role of chasing German V-1 flying bombs over friendly territory. After the war, the Meteor was used to break aviation speed records. In 1946 a Meteor set a record of 616 miles per hour. Unfortunately, being the first pioneering jet aircraft, it had an appalling safety record. A total of 890 Meteors were lost in RAF service alone resulting in the deaths of 450 pilots. This high casualty rate was excabated by the lack of ejection seats in the early Meteors.

On the 12th April 1951 these two aircraft of No.66 Squadron RAF were taking part in a four-ship interception exercise to the west of the Pennines from RAF Linton-on-Ouse near York. While returning to base, these two meteors descended through cloud too soon and flew into the ground still in formation. This is widely spread crash site with two distinct scars on the western side of Sliddens Moss where the aircraft impacted. Large sections of wreckage; including a tail section, wing parts, undercarriage legs, engine remain and engine cowlings are scattered across to the upper reaches of Meadow Clough. The wreckage trail extends over an area of about 500 metres.

Flying Officer Anthony Hauxwell Pilot (VZ518) Killed
Flight Lieutenant David Leach Pilot (WA791) Killed

6. LOCKHEED P-38J LIGHTNING 42-67207 TINTWHISTLE KNARR
The P-38 was an American single-seated piston-engined fighter aircraft used in World War II. It had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit. Whilst it was used in fighter roles such as a nightfighter or as a long-range escort fighter, it was also used in an aerial reconnaissance role and accounted for 90% of aerial film captured over Europe.

On the 10th May 1944 the pilot of this 496th Fighter Training Group USAAF aircraft was on a training flight from Goxhill near Barton-on-Humber when he lost control in cloud and struck the hill inverted. The pilot was killed. A wooden post marks the crash site and a pile of fragments has been gathered.

Flight Officer Hugh Jones Pilot Killed

7. MILES MASTER Mk.III W8474 MOTTRAM, HYDE
The Miles Master was a two-seat monoplane advanced trainer built for the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War. It functioned as an introduction to high performance fighter aircraft of the day such as the Spitfire and the Hurricane.

On the 19th July 1942 this aircraft belonging to No.16 (Polish) Flying Training School RAF was on a cross-country flight from RAF Newton near Nottingham. The aircraft was seen circling around the Mottram area before striking a high tension cable not far from Mottram church. This tore one of the wings off the aircraft which then spun into the ground at the bottom of ravine where it was completely destroyed killing the pilot. Nothing remains of the aircraft today but a memorial can be found in the village.

Leading Aircraftsman PAF Josef Gowkowski Pilot Killed

8. NORTH AMERICAN SABRE Mk.II 19234 HOLME MOSS, BLACK HILL
The North American F-86 Sabre was introduced in 1949 and is best known as the first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Soviet MIG-15 in high-speed dogfights during the Korean War (1950-53) fighting some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles in history. Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, with variants built in Canada and Australia.

On the 14th December 1954 this reconditioned aircraft of the No.137 (Transport) Flight RCAF was being flown on a test flight from Ringway prior to delivery to either the Greek or Turkish air forces when it crashed in bad weather scattering wreckage over a wide area. The pilot was killed. Substantial sections of aircraft structure and the wings remain most of which has been gathered together into a single collection at the eastern end of one of the many exposed sections of peat. Stencilling can still be read on a section of wreckage, just below a fuel inlet port.

Flying Officer Patrick Robinson Pilot Killed

 

[Calamity Jane]

Bloody hell Bertie how on earth did you fall off a cliff and were you alone? You truly are a champ. This next section is truly book worthy again. So many lives, I wonder how long it took aid to find them and help. Wonder how long the 2 injured survived. This report just shows us, the risks & sacrifices veterans took in these WWs. RIP all.

 

[DegenerateBum]

Great reports @Bertie Bollockbrains!

There are two more Shining Tor crash sites I can help document and there is also a third site that hasn't been found in recent times.

North American Harvard Mk.IIB FT442​

North American Harvard Mk.IIB FT442 of No.5 (P)AFU, RAF crashed on Shining Tor, 30 November 1944.

Sgt Julius Sofranko (Czech) Pilot Killed

Site 1. Scar and memorial, no wreckage traces found 14/11/2022

1944-11-30|Harvard Mk.IIB|FT442|No.5 (P)AFU, RAF|Shining Tor, Buxton

Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman 43-35439​

Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman 43-35439 of the 10th Depot Repair Squadron, 10th Air Depot Group USAAF crashed on Shining Tor, 29 September 1944.

2Lt Arnold Fredrickson Pilot Survived

Happily, 2Lt Fredrickson survived his bruising encounter with our hills and was able to make his way to nearby Stake Farm. When he arrived, he was seen to be clutching a large, sharp piece of wreckage which he explained when asked was, "to fend off coyotes."

Site 1. Long scar with melted metal fragments

1944-09-24|UC-64A|43-35439|10th AD Group, USAAF|Shining Tor, Buxton

The third site I mentioned (fifth, counting Airspeed Oxford Mk.I LX745/B and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolts 42-7872 and 42-7898) that I haven't been able to find is:

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I T3921​

There is a fifth “Shining Tor” crash site that has not been found in recent times.

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I T3921 of No.96 Sqn RAF is known to have crashed in the vicinity of Shining Tor 16 October 1941 whilst on a night training flight from RAF Cranage, which is about 18 miles away.

At first this crash site was thought to be the one of the Noorduyn below Shining Tor described above, however, detailed analysis of finds at the site by the Wetherspoon, Clark and Sheldon team showed conclusively the aircraft that crashed there was American in origin and could not be the Defiant.

1941-10-16|Defiant Mk.I|T3921|No.96 Sqn, RAF|Nr Buxton, Derbyshire