Report - Plane wrecks in the Brecon Beacons - March and May 2018

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

As one of the United Kingdom's main mountain ranges, and as one of the airforce's major training centres, the Brecon Beacons has had many aircraft crashes over the years.

Stumbling across a plane wreck by chance in March gave me the idea to seek out the whole lot. Most are off any sort of footpath and require good use of a compass and navigation skills.

All the sites are designated a Controlled Site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, but it is clear that people have been taking souvenirs.

My project is unfinished, but so far...

1. VICKERS WELLINGTON BJ697
Lies on the slopes of Fan Hir at an altitude of 510m and 200m west of an old sheep pen. On the 25th September 1942, this Wellington was assigned to 12 Operation Training Unit (OTU) at Chipping Warden and was undertaking a cross-country night flying exercise when it crashed at around 510m. The cause given was that the aircraft has been off course. Four of the crew were badly injured, one dying later in hospital. The fifth member was uninjured. Today the site is marked by a cairn and small pieces of wreckage has been gathered.

2. DE HAVILLAND VAMPIRE VZ106
The Vampire is the second jet fighter to be used by the RAF (after the Gloster Meteor) and the first to be powered by a single jet engine. Introduced in 1946 and officially retired by the RAF in 1966 (but used by Rhodesian forces until 1979). It is of distinct twin-boom construction.

It lies on the west slopes of Fan Hir at about 620m. Taking off from RAF Pembrey, it crashed on the 9th October 1953, the single pilot on board was killed. Considerable wreckage remains and the two booms and the jet engine are clear to see.

3. VICKERS WELLINGTON MF509
On the 20th November 1944, Vickers Wellington MF509 assigned to 22 Operational Training Unit at Wellesbourne Mountford crashed on Carreg Goch at around 520m. The aircraft was on cross-country night flying training exercise when it developed trouble with its starboard engine. The aircraft may have flown into shower clouds and accumulated an ice layer. Unable to maintain height with this additional load and one engine, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed. A memorial has been errected here listing the names of the six Canadian crew that were killed. Considerable wreckage remains.

4. CONSOLIDATED VULTEE LIBERATOR PB4Y-1 38753
The Consolidated Liberator is an American heavy bomber, more normally known as the B-24. Those with the designation PB4Y-1 belonged to the US Navy and were used for anti-submarine duties.

This Liberator took off from the US Naval base at Dunkeswell for a routine night familiarisation training flight and crashed on Moel Feity at an altitude of about 580m. The date being the 24th August 1944. All six members on board were killed. A cairn marks the site. No wreckage that I could see remain.

 

[Bertie Bollockbrains]

5. AVRO LANCASTER W4929
Lies in remote territory north of Fan Hir at an altitude of about 490m. On the 5th September 1943, this Lancaster was undertaking a cross-country night flying exercise from Winthorpe when it crashed killing all 8 air crew. The RAF Inquiry reported that the exact cause was unknown, but that the aircraft would appear to have been underpowered when it struck the ground. Wreckage on site including the remains of a Merlin engine block. An exploded bullet was found. A memorial cairn is here.

6. SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE X4588
Lies at about 680m on the south slopes on Pen-y-Fan. This Spitfire was assigned to 53 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Llanddow and crashed on the 23rd may 1942 during a formation-flying exercise killing the pilot. Small pieces of wreckage has been gathered around a cairn.

7. VICKERS WELLINGTON R1465
Lies on Waun Rydd at about 740m. This Wellington was assigned to 22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Wellesbourne Mountford. It was being flown by a Canadian crew on the 6th July 1942 when the aircraft met heavy cloud. It is believed that the pilot descended from the advised 10,000ft to check the Wellington's location and struck the top of Waun Rydd, killing the crew of 5 Canadians. Wreckage remains that has been gathered into two piles. A memorial has been errected and two engines can be located at the bottom of the valley.

8. VICKERS WELLINGTON T2520
This Wellington was assigned to 115 Squadron at RAF Marham. On the 9th December 1940, a flight of Wellingtons had taken off at 1715hr tasked with a bombing raid on Bordeaux. The estimated time of arrival back at base was 0145. Severn had returned by 0205 hours. Two others had landed at Boscombe Down and at Brackley. A report from the direction finding station at Tangmere stated that T2520 had made radio contact and reported that they were reducing height to conserve fuel. In bad weather during its return it became separated from its formation and lost. The crew believed they were over East Anglia and had begun the Wellington's slow descent to land. At 0312hrs, the aircraft flew into the rocky face of Cefn yr Ystad at around 600m and burst into flames. All crew were killed.

03

Sites visited but no photos taken...

9. VULCAN XH536 on the slopes of Fan Bwlch Chwyth which crashed on the 11th February 1966 during Terrain Following Radar Trails. All 5 crew members were killed. The site is marked by a scar on the ground and no wreckage that I could see remains.

10. AVRO ANSON L9149 on Fan Brycheiniog at about 770m. On the 17th January 1939, Avro Anson L9149 was being used for navigation and observers training flying by the Southampton Training Aviation Company based at Hamble. The plan had been to fly to Coventry via Cardiff, but the aircraft ran into thick cloud and rain and lost radio contact. Consequently, lost and disorientated, it flew into the ground to the south of Fan Brycheiniog at 770m. Only a piece of metal about 6 inches long was seen by myself.

11. VICKERS WELLINGTON L4256 which lies in thick bramble-strewn woods near to the village of Glyneath. Reaching the site involves hacking through dense undergrowth. Only small pieces of wreckage were found although allegedly a battered engine lies somewhere in the woods.

This is not an exhaustive list and the project is ongoing. Other sites include... Lysander T1512, Proctor NP216, Spitfire X4913, Mustang KH 499 and Hornet PX273.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Lenston]

Some good history there mate

 

[cunningcorgi]

Lovely report.

And all, happily and proudly, still remembered by the people of South Wales on the 24th August every year.

 

[MrDevla]

That’s a great report, we have the wreckage of a Boing B29 Superfortress not too far away from me in a similar state to the ones. Quite an erie atmosphere up there and because of the amount of aluminium used it’s not all rusted.

 

[Olkka]

Now this is some expert archaeology. Doing god's work - hats' off

 

[wormster]

Good to see those again, have visited one or two, but there's some I have not seen yet.

 

[clebby]

This is great Bertie, one of the most interesting reports I’ve read in ages

 

[Jackdaw47]

This is great Bertie, one of the most interesting reports I’ve read in ages

I agree! For some they died a long way from home.

 

[Seffy]

Proper thorough write up that. Thanks for posting Bertie

 

[WhoDaresWins]

Interesting idea this, top report, very interesting. Some good history there. Didn't realise there were that many crash sites on the brecon beacons.

 

[The Lone Ranger]

Very nice and an interesting report

I quite often used the plane wrecks as navigation points up on the moors where I live. Most have been swallowed by the peat, but always nice to see the odd fragment of the wreck and find out the history of the plane and crew.

 

[GG]

Nice work Bertie. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Regcar]

What a sad read, but thanks for the effort you have put in to produce this report. The photos are brilliant, presume a decent SLR was used. Nice to see most sites are still being respected.

 

[t.j]

Not often i comment but this one caught my eye straight away,Best report ive seen in a long time so much history to be seen i never knew all that was up there great pictures thank you for sharing this on