Tuesday 28 October 2008

Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach

Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach
Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A Wales trip yesterday, we set out with no great hopes of finding any of the three known, and one disputed wreck sites on Elidir Fawr and Elidir Fach. Elidir Fawr has a power station hidden inside it, and is therefore also known as Electric Mountain.

On top of "Electric Mountain", in that cloud somewhere, might well be some remains from the crash of Piper Tomahawk G-BOCC, but we weren't up for the final ascent on the day. The Tomahawk's pilot spent several hours conscious and badly injured hanging over a long, steep drop before he was rescued. Not his best day ever, I shouldn't imagine.

The crash site is allegedly very close to the remains of a Beaufighter according to the Snowdonia scrap dealer's list. They don't call themselves scrap dealers, they think they are aviation archaeologists. However, since most of the stuff they "recovered" quasi-legally from the mountains of Wales ended up weighed in for scrap, it seems the fairest description. Archaeologists do not deal in scrap metal.

We did find wreckage where these Diddycoys said they found Hercules engines from a Beaufighter. We understand however that majority opinion would be that this wreckage is from a Skua which crashed there, or even from the Blenheim crash site (600m away, according to "High Ground Wrecks"). Skuas did not have Bristol Hercules engines. They did however have Bristol Perseus engines. These have 9 cylinders, vs 14 for the Hercules. Could it be that they just couldn't count that high? Of course, if the grave-robbers hadn't weighed the identifiable bits of the the 'plane in, we'd be in a better position to comment on what they saw!

We also found some bits on the slopes of Elidir Fach which were unarguably from Blenheim V6099. It doesn't appear on the previously mentioned list, but it's definitely on the hill.

So we found a fair bit more than expected, and were back down in time for a spot of fish and chips. All good.

Since we posted this we have had some correspondence which suggests that we should not criticise people we have not met.

OK, we take it all back. That guy Hitler was probably just misunderstood too. What do we know, we never met him.

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

We think the molten aluminium mixed in with these more recognisable components show this to be the burn-out site of this disputed wreck site on Elidir Fawr.

There is a cairn immediately adjacent to this scatter of bits, perhaps indicating that someone else thought the same.

We are calling it as the Skua rather than a Beaufighter, based on what is there to be seen now. It might even be more of the Blenheim. That would be a long wreckage trail, mind.

Location:SH 60976 61526


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Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

A cluster of fair sized bits of steel below the burn site, with my walking pole for scale.

Location: SH 60960 61570

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?

Blackburn B-24 Skua Mk.II L3054 or Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099?
Skua/Beaufighter: Elidir Fawr
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

The lowest sizeable bit we found near the HGW coordinates for the Skua. Looks to be a bit of undercarriage and associated oleo strut.

There is some evidence that this might be a bit of the Blenheim, despite being much closer to High Ground Wrecks' Skua site.

A correspondent tells us that the undercarriage is from a Blenheim. (I would say suggests, but the correspondent is not a person who suggests, but rather expects to be beleived on the basis of his own unrealistic self-appraisal) This is easily possible, though the photos offered as evidence are far from conclusive.

No-one is presently offering any convincing evidence to dispute that any of the other suspected Skua parts are from a Blenheim. No-one other than this correspondent, and his mate have offered any opinion, despite the photos having been posted on the Aero Part Identity Board since 28/10/2008.

Location: SH 60900 61740

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Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099

Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV V6099
Blenheim: Elidirs
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig2

Some bits of aluminium skinning from the site of the 31 March 1943 crash of 22 year old Flying Officer Edward Alexander Perry's Bristol Blenheim.

We don't normally bother too much with the historical stuff on here, but there's really nothing on the web from other wreck hunters on this.

Though there were no identifying marks on any of these bits, we are calling this definitively Blenheim wreckage based on the proximity to the High Ground Wrecks coordinates. No-one is disagreeing with us so far.

Location: SH 60874 62112

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Monday 20 October 2008

Staffordshire Moorlands

Staffordshire Moorlands
Crane
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

We went to the Leek area today to look at a couple of small wreck sites.

While we were at it, we found this old steam crane at the edge of a wood. Mick had to hop up for a play on it. That's his Casey Jones face.

There are also some freight carriages and a first class passenger carriage rotting away on the overgrown sidings at this site.

Location:SJ 97072 44955

But on to the 'plane wrecks...

Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9958

Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-9958
Havoc:Quarnford
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A scrap of aluminium skinning from the crater left by the 1945 crash of this Douglas Havoc near Quarnford, Staffordshire.

Location:SK 03209 68071

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Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V LA765

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V LA765
Whitley: Godleybrook
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A chunk of cast aluminium alloy from the 1944 crash site of this Whitley bomber at Dilhorne near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire.

Location: SJ 97304 44867

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Tuesday 14 October 2008

Pateley Bridge

We went over to Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire to look at some of the cluster of wreck sites around there yesterday.

We had a day of moderate success, starting with readily finding somewhere to get breakfast (four fried chickens and a coke for me, dry white toast for Mick) in Pateley Bridge.

Ten miles exactly, across mooorland very reminiscent of Bleaklow yielded two of the day's planned wreck sites, a Piper Cherokee and a Handley Page Halifax. The last one (a Wellington) probably eluded us, though we found a mystery bit.

We'll be back to clear this, and the dozen or so other sites we have in the surrounding area. It's a far better centre of operations than Ilkley.

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A or Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808?

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A or Armstrong Vickers Wellington Mk.IC Z8808?
Halifax or Wellington?
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

We found this bit of aircraft aluminium on our walk to the Halifax, more or less halfway between the reported crash sites of the Halifax and a Wellington.

Location: SE 10236 67759

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Pretty much the whole of this Piper Cherokee remains at Ashfold Gill Head on the moors above Pateley Bridge

Location: SE 07420 68358

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Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN Wing
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

Mick in the standard pose of visitors to this site, with the 'plane's crumpled wing.

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN

Piper Cherokee PA 28-180, G-AVYN Memorial
Piper Cherokee
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A poignant message seemingly left recently by the 22-year old pilot's son on the wing of the aircraft.

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Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

A pit containing large pieces of aluminium skinning from Halifax DG404 on Brown Hill Plain (some give it as Heathfield Moor or even Ashfold Side Beck) on the moors above Pateley Bridge

Location: SE 09570 67520

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

One of the two groups of good-sized wreckage at this Halifax crash site

Location: SE 09592 67502

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Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A

Handley Page Halifax Mk.V DG404 coded OO-A Serial Number
Halifax
Originally uploaded by seansonofbig

And for you serial number fans, here's a detail from a bit of wreckage carrying an embossed serial number with the "57" prefix indicative of a Halifax.

Tuesday 7 October 2008

Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr

Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr: Sean and Matt in the fog
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A day out with Matt ZX yesterday on foggy Arenig Fawr looking at the crash site of a Flying Fortress. We found far more wreckage than expected, trailling 300m down the slope in a suspiciously straight line which Matt thought might be the path taken by the recovery team.

Theres' not really much on the 'net about this site, but the link below gives a precis of the circumstances of the crash, and a pic of the crew..

Location: SH 82430 37069 to SH 82649 36942

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Arenig Fawr: Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Memorial and Wreck Site
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

The memorial with small crash debris in front, adjacent to the trig. point.

This memorial appears identical to that which was reportedly fixed to the wall of the Town Hall.

Was it moved up here, or are there two of them?

Location: SH 82703 36949

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Memorial
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Memorial Detail: compare this with this photo of the one on the Old Town Hall. Is this the same memorial stone?

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Molten Aluminium
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

Formerly molten aluminium from the crash scar at the summit of Arenig Fawr

Location: SH 82649 36942

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134:Aluminium scraps
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

A collection of fair-sized bits further down the hill. Our Flickr site shows lots of other bits we found all the way up to the crash site and memorial. Too many and too small to blog them all.

Location: SH 82565 37052

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134

Boeing Flying Fortress B-17F 42-3134: Aluminium scraps
Flying Fortress: Arenig Fawr
Originally uploaded by wreckhunter

This was the lowest substantial bit of wreckage we found. Thoroughly concertinaed by the crash.

Location: SH 82435 37069