Warning: this is a long report as wanting to be comprehensive of what is in the area. It is in several parts and very pic heavy
I have always enjoyed being up in the hills. Having by pure chance stumbled across a WW2 aircraft wreck in the Brecon Beacons a couple of years ago, this gave me new reason to be up in the hills. Since then I have visited the remains of over 70 aircraft, mostly of the WW2 era and some of which have been posted in here.
Due to a flight cancellation (cheers Lufthansa for cancelling my flight less than 30 hours prior to the departure time - it was great telling my young son to unpack the suitcase that he had already packed!) I recently drove up to the Peak District as a Plan B option.
The wreck of the Boeing Superfortress 'Over Exposed' in the Peak District has been much reported in here - not surprising the wreck site is a relatively short walk from the nearest parking on a well trodden footpath with minimal ascent. But this is by far not the only wreck site in the area. Over the period of the lockdown I have gathered together from many sources grid references for aircraft wrecks all over the UK and nearby overseas countries (well what else was I meant to do - the Wetherspoons was closed and the bastards even shut down the swingers club in my home town).
To date I have identified the location of 15 aircraft wrecks in the south-west (meaning Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor), 89 in Wales, 58 in the Peak District, 74 in the Pennines, 13 in the North Yorkshire Moors, 22 in the Lake District, 125 in Scotland, 14 on the Isle of Man, 17 in Ireland, 17 in Iceland and 112 in Norway. This is still a gross underestimation and research is ongoing. In addition I have the locations of a further 302 lowland sites in the UK where no extant wreckage remains but the site is marked by some sort of memorial. If this sounds a lot, just consider that over 10000 aircraft crashed over the UK during the course of WW2.
As in previous reports, a reminder that it is a criminal offence to tamper in any way with military aircraft wreck sites. I say this as some of these sites have suffered from souvenir hunters. For starters some of these sites genuinely are war graves as the bodies were never recovered.
1. HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX A. Mk.IX RT922, GRINDON MOOR, LEEK
No.47 Sqdn. RAF
A four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War, 6176 were built.
Squadron Leader Donald McIntyre Pilot Killed
Flight Lieutenant Ernest Smith Navigator Killed
Warrant Officer Gordon Chapman Bomb Aimer Killed
Warrant Officer Richard Sydney Flight Engineer Killed
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Pettit Wireless Operator Killed
Sergeant William Sherry Passenger Killed
N/A David Savill Press Photographer Killed
N/A Joseph Reardon Press Photographer Killed
Not a site with any extant wreckage but a memorial stone marks the spot. Visited as was on the way whilst driving up from somewhere down south. The winter of 1946 / 1947 saw some of the heaviest snowfall recorded in England. It was particularly bad in the areas of high ground with many villages in the Pennines being cut off. On the 11th February No.47 Squadron was put on alert by the Ministry of Food that some of the cut off villages were running low on food and would need to be supplied by air. The food was delivered to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and then onto ten aircraft. The residents of the villages of Longnor and Butterton were told to mark drop zones with a large cross of soot in the snow. On the 13th February 1947, the crew of this Handley Page Halifax took off to make what was to be the first drop at 09:02. They arrived in the area at 09:50 and made their first run but could not see the drop zone as the cloud was down to 100ft above ground level. They radioed their intention to make a second run which reported 10 minutes later that they had again failed and were trying a third time. In white-out conditions the pilot bought the aircraft lower than he probably realised and one wing struck the ground near the road across Grindon Moor and cart-wheeled the aircraft. The National Fire Service were alerted to the crash around 11:00 but were unable to even begin approaching the site. They made contact with the RAF Mountain Rescue Team at Harpur Hill who set out on foot equipped with snow shoes and sledges at 11:45. After walking around 3 miles in the snow they found a tractor which they then used to reach Longnor but found drifts as deep as 16 feet. The sledges “became a liability” so the members of the team loaded their packs up and again started walking. They eventually reached the crash site at just after 16:00 and found that the villagers had removed the bodies of the victims from the wreckage but that there were still some fires burning. Eight members of crew and passengers were killed. Today there is no remaining surface wreckage but a large stone memorial has been erected on the site adjacent to a public right of way.
2. AIRSPEED OXFORD LX745, SHINING TOR, BUXTON
No.11 Advanced Flying Unit
A twin-engined aircraft developed for use in the training of aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War. 8751 were built.
Flying Officer Charles Wood Pilot (instructor) Killed
Flying Officer RCAF Gerald Liggett Pilot (under training) Killed
Flight Sergeant Joseph Hall Wireless Operator Killed
This crash occurred on the 12th March 1944 while the crew were undertaking a daytime cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Calveley near Nantwich. Cowling panels, a wheel and other aluminium parts remain in a shallow depression. Slightly north of the site an oil tank can be found.
3. REPUBLIC P-47D THUNDERBOLTS 42-7972 AND 42-7898, CATS TOR, BUXTON
2906th Observation group USAAF
An American aircraft used in a fighter-bomber attack role during the Second World War. 15636 were built.
Captain Malta Stepp Jr Pilot 42-7872 Killed
Staff Sergeant Lynn Morrison Pilot 42-7898 Killed
These two aircraft were on a training flight on the 30th September 1943, when they flew into the western side of Cats Tor in cloud and while still in formation. While there are only a few scraps left at the site, there are still two very visible scars on the hillside next to each other, which can be seen from the road near to Saltersford Hall.
4. AIRSPEED OXFORD HN594, BROWN KNOLL, EDALE
No.21 Advanced Flying Unit
Warrant Officer George Robinson Instructor Injured
Flying Officer John Downthwaite Pilot (under training) Injured
Flying Officer Edgar Croker Pilot (under training) Injured
On the 28th December 1945, on a daytime map reading exercise from RAF Seighford in Staffordshire, the aircraft flew into the ground and broke up while trying to climb clear of high ground in poor weather conditions. All members of crew survived the accident. The pilot, Edward Croker, managed to reach Lee Farm, despite injuries, to summon help. The site lies in a large hollow at the head of a gully, close to the summit of Brown Knoll on the western side of the hill. This contains numerous aluminium panels mainly from the engine cowlings.
5. AVRO ANSON Mk.XI NL185, THE CLOUGHS, EDALE
Halton HQ Flight, RAF Bomber Command
Developed in the 1930s for maritime reconnaissance operations. Obsolete by the Second World War for combat operations and used as a multi-engined aircrew trainer. 11020 were built.
Wing Commander Richard Speare Pilot Killed
On the 23rd November 1945 this aircraft was on a ferry flight from RAF Halton, Oxfordshire, to RAF Feltwell in Suffolk. The pilot became hopelessly lost in poor weather and while descending through cloud flew into the southern side of Kinder. The pilot was killed. Cowling panels and other parts remain at the crash site. A single engine from the Anson lies in a gully some way down the hill towards Jacob’s Ladder path (but was not visited as we had already walked 20km that day).
6. HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX Mk.II HR727, BLACKDEN EDGE, KINDER SCOUT
No.51 Sqdn. RAF
Sergeant Ernest Fenning Pilot Killed
Warrant Officer Jean Fortin Navigator Killed
Sergeant Eric Lane Flight Engineer Died of Injuries
Sergeant Victor Garland Bomb Aimer Injured
Sergeant Frank Squibbs Wireless Operator Killed
Sergeant Boris Short Air Gunner Killed
Sergeant James Mack Air Gunner Injured
On the 5th October 1943, this aircraft had taken part in a raid against Hamburg from RAF Snaith near Selby in Yorkshire. The aircraft had been attacked over the target by a Luftwaffe night-fighter which has caused severe damage to the aircraft’s port-inner engine causing the loss of most of the aircraft’s electrical power. This meant that the crew were unable to use their radio equipment to aid their return to Snaith. Having overshot their base and while attempting to locate their position, the aircraft flew into rough moorland on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke into a number of large sections spread over a wide area. Five of the seven members of crew were killed. Today a large hollow on the edge of a gully contains sections of the aircraft. Further small parts spread along a line towards a trigulation point, with a distinct second collection of piled wreckage.
I have always enjoyed being up in the hills. Having by pure chance stumbled across a WW2 aircraft wreck in the Brecon Beacons a couple of years ago, this gave me new reason to be up in the hills. Since then I have visited the remains of over 70 aircraft, mostly of the WW2 era and some of which have been posted in here.
Due to a flight cancellation (cheers Lufthansa for cancelling my flight less than 30 hours prior to the departure time - it was great telling my young son to unpack the suitcase that he had already packed!) I recently drove up to the Peak District as a Plan B option.
The wreck of the Boeing Superfortress 'Over Exposed' in the Peak District has been much reported in here - not surprising the wreck site is a relatively short walk from the nearest parking on a well trodden footpath with minimal ascent. But this is by far not the only wreck site in the area. Over the period of the lockdown I have gathered together from many sources grid references for aircraft wrecks all over the UK and nearby overseas countries (well what else was I meant to do - the Wetherspoons was closed and the bastards even shut down the swingers club in my home town).
To date I have identified the location of 15 aircraft wrecks in the south-west (meaning Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor), 89 in Wales, 58 in the Peak District, 74 in the Pennines, 13 in the North Yorkshire Moors, 22 in the Lake District, 125 in Scotland, 14 on the Isle of Man, 17 in Ireland, 17 in Iceland and 112 in Norway. This is still a gross underestimation and research is ongoing. In addition I have the locations of a further 302 lowland sites in the UK where no extant wreckage remains but the site is marked by some sort of memorial. If this sounds a lot, just consider that over 10000 aircraft crashed over the UK during the course of WW2.
As in previous reports, a reminder that it is a criminal offence to tamper in any way with military aircraft wreck sites. I say this as some of these sites have suffered from souvenir hunters. For starters some of these sites genuinely are war graves as the bodies were never recovered.
1. HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX A. Mk.IX RT922, GRINDON MOOR, LEEK
No.47 Sqdn. RAF
A four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War, 6176 were built.
Squadron Leader Donald McIntyre Pilot Killed
Flight Lieutenant Ernest Smith Navigator Killed
Warrant Officer Gordon Chapman Bomb Aimer Killed
Warrant Officer Richard Sydney Flight Engineer Killed
Flight Sergeant Kenneth Pettit Wireless Operator Killed
Sergeant William Sherry Passenger Killed
N/A David Savill Press Photographer Killed
N/A Joseph Reardon Press Photographer Killed
Not a site with any extant wreckage but a memorial stone marks the spot. Visited as was on the way whilst driving up from somewhere down south. The winter of 1946 / 1947 saw some of the heaviest snowfall recorded in England. It was particularly bad in the areas of high ground with many villages in the Pennines being cut off. On the 11th February No.47 Squadron was put on alert by the Ministry of Food that some of the cut off villages were running low on food and would need to be supplied by air. The food was delivered to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and then onto ten aircraft. The residents of the villages of Longnor and Butterton were told to mark drop zones with a large cross of soot in the snow. On the 13th February 1947, the crew of this Handley Page Halifax took off to make what was to be the first drop at 09:02. They arrived in the area at 09:50 and made their first run but could not see the drop zone as the cloud was down to 100ft above ground level. They radioed their intention to make a second run which reported 10 minutes later that they had again failed and were trying a third time. In white-out conditions the pilot bought the aircraft lower than he probably realised and one wing struck the ground near the road across Grindon Moor and cart-wheeled the aircraft. The National Fire Service were alerted to the crash around 11:00 but were unable to even begin approaching the site. They made contact with the RAF Mountain Rescue Team at Harpur Hill who set out on foot equipped with snow shoes and sledges at 11:45. After walking around 3 miles in the snow they found a tractor which they then used to reach Longnor but found drifts as deep as 16 feet. The sledges “became a liability” so the members of the team loaded their packs up and again started walking. They eventually reached the crash site at just after 16:00 and found that the villagers had removed the bodies of the victims from the wreckage but that there were still some fires burning. Eight members of crew and passengers were killed. Today there is no remaining surface wreckage but a large stone memorial has been erected on the site adjacent to a public right of way.
2. AIRSPEED OXFORD LX745, SHINING TOR, BUXTON
No.11 Advanced Flying Unit
A twin-engined aircraft developed for use in the training of aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery roles throughout the Second World War. 8751 were built.
Flying Officer Charles Wood Pilot (instructor) Killed
Flying Officer RCAF Gerald Liggett Pilot (under training) Killed
Flight Sergeant Joseph Hall Wireless Operator Killed
This crash occurred on the 12th March 1944 while the crew were undertaking a daytime cross-country navigation exercise from RAF Calveley near Nantwich. Cowling panels, a wheel and other aluminium parts remain in a shallow depression. Slightly north of the site an oil tank can be found.
3. REPUBLIC P-47D THUNDERBOLTS 42-7972 AND 42-7898, CATS TOR, BUXTON
2906th Observation group USAAF
An American aircraft used in a fighter-bomber attack role during the Second World War. 15636 were built.
Captain Malta Stepp Jr Pilot 42-7872 Killed
Staff Sergeant Lynn Morrison Pilot 42-7898 Killed
These two aircraft were on a training flight on the 30th September 1943, when they flew into the western side of Cats Tor in cloud and while still in formation. While there are only a few scraps left at the site, there are still two very visible scars on the hillside next to each other, which can be seen from the road near to Saltersford Hall.
4. AIRSPEED OXFORD HN594, BROWN KNOLL, EDALE
No.21 Advanced Flying Unit
Warrant Officer George Robinson Instructor Injured
Flying Officer John Downthwaite Pilot (under training) Injured
Flying Officer Edgar Croker Pilot (under training) Injured
On the 28th December 1945, on a daytime map reading exercise from RAF Seighford in Staffordshire, the aircraft flew into the ground and broke up while trying to climb clear of high ground in poor weather conditions. All members of crew survived the accident. The pilot, Edward Croker, managed to reach Lee Farm, despite injuries, to summon help. The site lies in a large hollow at the head of a gully, close to the summit of Brown Knoll on the western side of the hill. This contains numerous aluminium panels mainly from the engine cowlings.
5. AVRO ANSON Mk.XI NL185, THE CLOUGHS, EDALE
Halton HQ Flight, RAF Bomber Command
Developed in the 1930s for maritime reconnaissance operations. Obsolete by the Second World War for combat operations and used as a multi-engined aircrew trainer. 11020 were built.
Wing Commander Richard Speare Pilot Killed
On the 23rd November 1945 this aircraft was on a ferry flight from RAF Halton, Oxfordshire, to RAF Feltwell in Suffolk. The pilot became hopelessly lost in poor weather and while descending through cloud flew into the southern side of Kinder. The pilot was killed. Cowling panels and other parts remain at the crash site. A single engine from the Anson lies in a gully some way down the hill towards Jacob’s Ladder path (but was not visited as we had already walked 20km that day).
6. HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX Mk.II HR727, BLACKDEN EDGE, KINDER SCOUT
No.51 Sqdn. RAF
Sergeant Ernest Fenning Pilot Killed
Warrant Officer Jean Fortin Navigator Killed
Sergeant Eric Lane Flight Engineer Died of Injuries
Sergeant Victor Garland Bomb Aimer Injured
Sergeant Frank Squibbs Wireless Operator Killed
Sergeant Boris Short Air Gunner Killed
Sergeant James Mack Air Gunner Injured
On the 5th October 1943, this aircraft had taken part in a raid against Hamburg from RAF Snaith near Selby in Yorkshire. The aircraft had been attacked over the target by a Luftwaffe night-fighter which has caused severe damage to the aircraft’s port-inner engine causing the loss of most of the aircraft’s electrical power. This meant that the crew were unable to use their radio equipment to aid their return to Snaith. Having overshot their base and while attempting to locate their position, the aircraft flew into rough moorland on Blackden Edge. The aircraft broke into a number of large sections spread over a wide area. Five of the seven members of crew were killed. Today a large hollow on the edge of a gully contains sections of the aircraft. Further small parts spread along a line towards a trigulation point, with a distinct second collection of piled wreckage.
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: The report that is not the deaths. 
