real time web analytics
Report - - Plane Wrecks on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, Devon and Cornwall – Winter 2018/9 | Other Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Plane Wrecks on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, Devon and Cornwall – Winter 2018/9

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
This report is on nine military plane crash sites in the south-west, seven on Dartmoor and two on Bodmin Moor. It is not quite exhaustive, as I never got to the wreck of an US Navy PB4Y on Steepleton Tor, Dartmoor, as it is within the military training zone. There are also the remains of two German fighters on Lundy Island, but the ferry service to Lundy doesn’t run during the winter. If I ever get to these remaining three sites, I will add on to this report for a complete record.

Done on a visit in October 2018 and again in January 2019

CONSOLIDATED VULTEE LIBERATOR PB4Y-1 63926, SLIPPER STONES, DARTMOOR
On the 28th December 1943 in order to locate a group of enemy destroyers in the Bay of Biscay, USN Fleet Air Wing 7, based at Dunkeswell in Devon, launched 15 PB4Y-1 Liberators. Whilst on patrol, PB4Y-1 B-5 engaged with two enemy aircraft. On finishing the patrol, the PB4Y-1 returned individually and on reaching the south-west coast of England, descended into cloud and having turned an easterly track, struck the hilltop and then dropped onto rocky ground below where it disintegrated and burned out. Ten crew members were killed. Quite large pieces of burnt airframe and sections of armour plating can be found. It appears that the wreckage was partially buried by the salvage team in a series of pits just outside the Okehampton Range Danger Area.

Consolidated PB4Y-1, used by the US Navy for maritime patrols. It is a variant of the Army’s B-24
31928295897_68c60bb47f_b.jpg


The lowest burial pit
39904833363_ab5a9c2166_b.jpg


Seen in the first pit
45955688465_a3d950f37b_b.jpg


Higher up the slope is the second burial pit, marked by a plaque
39905120393_cbebf4ee97_b.jpg


31928608047_eaedcc0b3c_b.jpg


14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine, one of four that the plane had
46817977822_4021227e75_b.jpg


Higher up the slope was the third burial pit
45955624335_ff38c7f5e0_b.jpg

And a fourth burial pit near to the top of the slope
46817943612_1e7071a8a4_b.jpg


A sheet of armour plating
45955589405_43bcde897b_b.jpg


Paint still remains
32994364688_5e07e7fd35_b.jpg


CONSOLIDATED B-24D LIBERATOR 42-40474 , HAMBLE DOWN, DARTMOOR
Airbourne from Alconbury Air Station in Cambridgeshire on the 27th December 1943, the aircraft was on the third leg of a cross-country training flight. This part of the route was intended to take the aircraft from over Taunton to Bude Bay, but the plane deviated south and was 20 miles off the planned route when it flew into cloud covered hill and burned out. All 8 crew members were killed. A grassy patch on the heather covered slope contains a few pieces of melted aluminium.

Consolidated B-24D Liberator, used by the US Army as a heavy bomber. Approximately 18500 were built
31928305197_cea9076929_b.jpg


An area of scarred land lies amongst the heather
45955570825_fea83bc4b2_b.jpg


Lumps of melted aluminium
39905021833_fd3e81b5cc_b.jpg


Bolts and nuts
39905004503_540737464b_b.jpg


BOEING B17-G FLYING FORTRESS 42-37869, TIGERS MARSH, CORN RIDGE, DARTMOOR
On the 25th December 1943 and following a meteorological reconnaissance sortie, this USAAF aircraft landed at RAF St. Eval in Cornwall and later departed to return to its base at Cheddington Air Station in Hertfordshire. Flying on a north-easterly track the pilot attempted to maintain visual contact with the ground, but having cleared a lower hill on the edge of Dartmoor, the aircraft entered cloud hanging over the valley beyond. A climb, with reference to instruments, was commenced but the rate of climb was too low and the aircraft struck the hill, bounced up the gentle slope and then caught fire as the fuel tanks ruptured. Five crew members perished. A large scar remains on the boggy hilltop and contains a few pieces of armour plating and lumps of melted aluminium.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, heavy bomber in use from 1938 to 1968
32994506338_4d10394bdf_b.jpg


A large boggy scar marks the site
32994506138_cfb1469a61_b.jpg


Melted aluminium
45955503545_d86955cc4b_b.jpg


Memorial plaque
46817820822_baf178e277_b.jpg


Detail of the boggy ground
39904958513_a679346534_b.jpg


The only recognisable piece
39904862883_71d58e6c23_b.jpg


DE HAVILLAND SEA VIXEN F.A.W. Mk.I XN648 / 716-VL, FLAT TOR, DARTMOOR
During a training flight on the 31st May 1961, from Yeovilton in Somerset, the aircraft entered a spin and was unable to regain control. The crew ejected and survived, leaving the aircraft to dive into the ground creating a sizeable crater. The water-filled crater hides the bulk of the aircraft’s remains. However a few metres out from the northern side of the crater small fragments of wreckage can be seen.

The sea Vixen was a carrier-based fleet air-defence fighter flown by the Royal Navy during the 1950s through to the 1970s. Only 145 of these were built
31928412217_196256e363_b.jpg


A large impact crater
46817789912_ab16c5ba0f_b.jpg


Small pieces of wreckage on the shore
31928397467_7f8b6f7c46_b.jpg


And pieces seen in the water
39904911863_8978ed35e6_b.jpg
 

Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX Mk.I X3054 / EA-S, HAMBLE DOWN, DARTMOOR
On the 21st March 1941, this aircraft of No.49 Sqn RAF descended below cloud at night and flew into hillside. The aircraft was returning to base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire following a bombing raid on Lorient in France. Three crew members were killed and fourth later died of his injuries. The mother of the pilot arranged for a large inscribed stone to be erected close to the site. In 1991 the stone was cleaned and a plaque attached. The aircraft struck the hillside approximately 50m SSE of the standing stone but no wreckage is visible.

The Halifax, a 4-engined heavy bomber used by the RAF
31928831677_e9ef294360_b.jpg


A memorial stone marks the site
46817735952_935f4da827_b.jpg


This plaque was erected in 1991
31928353097_893201da07_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 42-100640, HUNTINGDON WARREN, DARTMOOR
Inbound from Villacoubley in France on the 13th October 1945, the aircraft arrived over Exeter at 4000ft but was unable to land as planned due to the weather conditions. While holding over the airfield, the pilot asked if an alternative airfield was available and was recommended RAF Western Zoyland in Somerset. The pilot asked for a QDM (magnetic bearing to a station) but was passed the reciprocal of the required QDM. As a result the aircraft turned on to a south-westerly track, and whilst flying in cloud at an altitude that allowed minimal clearance over terrain on the intended route, hit hillside and disintegrated. 7 crew members were killed. On impact, the aircraft struck the north-east corner of a stone-wall enclosure, with the broken remains of the wings and fuselage then coming to rest on the slope close to the south-west corner of the enclosure. To date, the section of stone wall demolished on impact has not been rebuilt. No wreckage could be seen.

The C47 Skytrain, also known as the Dakota, was a military transport plane developed from the civilian DC-3 airliner
46869630721_f00548f24a_b.jpg


The crash site is the upper square pen seen on the right
46818188392_b943a526b9_b.jpg


About 20m of the drystone wall has been demolished
46818179572_8a88bc1088_b.jpg


No wreckage could be seen in the rubble of the wall
46145293844_e0f8e1ffc9_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 43-30733, BROWN WILLY, BODMIN MOOR
On the 23rd December 1943 this USAAF aircraft was flying from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall to Grove Air Station in Oxford. After take-off, the plane belonging to 310th Ferry Squadron, 27th ATG, failed to climb to a suitable altitude and flew into the cloud covered summit of the tor on an easterly tack. All four crew members were killed. A scar containing a few pieces of wreckage remains, where the aircraft burned out by a rock outcrop.

Brown Willy is the highest hill on Bodmin Moor
32994794388_1c63b4bbff_b.jpg


The crash site is an isolated rocky outcrop near to the summit
46145271754_bc78a0d62a_b.jpg


A plaque marks the site
32994768028_39e9453c42_b.jpg


The cleft in the rock caused by the impact
39905243433_06a39e5a94_b.jpg


A lump of melted aluminium
31928760977_dff3fe9649_b.jpg


VICKERS WELLINGTON B. Mk.X LN775, THREE BARROWS, DARTMOOR
After leaving the Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit at RAF Hurn in Dorset for transfer to Mediterranean Air Command on the 1st March 1944, the aircraft drifted 25 miles off the briefed route to Rabat Sale in Morocco. Flying in cloud on a westerly track, the aircraft struck the side of the hill and burned out. Four crew members were killed. It was three days after the crash before the remains of the aircraft were located. At the crash site, within site of the central barrow of Three Barrows, can be found a scar containing a few small pieces of melted aluminium and heat discharged 0.303 in. cartridge cases.

The Vickers Wellington was a twin-engined long-range medium bomber, the RAF’s principal night bomber in the early years of the war, superseded later by the heavier Avro Lancaster
46144872084_06dedbd545_b.jpg


The site is within sight of the summit barrow
46818126172_8bc59d09af_b.jpg


Little wreckage remains
45955782665_4dd5998a97_b.jpg

Electrical components?
46145222344_2dfef455a0_b.jpg


Heat-discharged 0.303in cartridges
31928712867_df684a19e7_b.jpg


46818073042_1ff76825f5_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-54A SKYMASTER 42-72249, SHARPTOR, BODMIN MOOR
Inbound from Lagers in the Azores to RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall, on a transport flight on the 18th October 1944, the aircraft crossed the coast and was authorised to descend to 3000ft and position for an approach. After overflying the airfield in cloud the aircraft flew out to the east and attempted to acquire the approach beam. However, the liaison radio equipment onboard was being adversely effected by the weather conditions and the radio compass was inoperative, making acquisition of the beam difficult. After receiving a QDM to RAF Exeter the aircraft turned to the north to intercept the beam. At this point the navigator and check pilot realised a barometric pressure setting received previously, and selected on the altimeters, was incorrect and the aircraft was too low. Before they were able to inform the pilot, the aircraft flew into a downdraught and as the pilot tried to recover airspeed the aircraft hit the ground, skidded across the hilltop and then caught fire. All nine aircrew survived. No.67 MU salvaged the burnt-out remains of the aircraft using a tractor and sledge and now only a boggy scar containing a few tiny fragments of wreckage can be seen at the site.

The Skymaster is a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army in WW2 and the Korean War. It is derived from the civilian DC-4 airliner
46144886694_24b0be061e_b.jpg


A large scar marks the site
45955727925_a8bbc04148_b.jpg


39905169883_52c5841d92_b.jpg


A small pile of wreckage can be seen
46869957581_5118135222_b.jpg


31928648327_dd2676dd9d_b.jpg


Thanks for reading
 

anubis

28" Member
28DL Full Member
Interesting. I remember years ago going up on top of Winter Hill, near Horwich, Bolton and am fairly sure someone told me at the time of some wreckages up there too.
Maybe gone now no idea.
 

HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Fascinating stuff. Makes me realise just how much there is left of the Superfortress "Over-exposed" above Glossop...
 

Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
@anubis There's hundreds of plane wrecks up north in the Peak District/Pennines and Yorkshire Dales. The website Peak District Air Crashes documents over 500. The one you are referring to is probably Oxford BM837 which crashed in December 1943 or Bristol Freighter G-AICS which crashed in 1958. They both crashed on Winter Hill. It would seem very little is left of these two and also here
 

myke

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice report kept me occupied for a while sifting through the photos. I was quite surprised there is so much left even in bleak conditions I expected nature to take over.
 

WØLF

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
nice work!
Last year I missioned it up into the hills of Strachur in Argyll to locate the wreckage of a B-29 superfortress, it's surprising how much of the wreckage is still there. I got some pics saved somewhere if your ever interested.
 

Urbex2p

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
HANDLEY PAGE HALIFAX Mk.I X3054 / EA-S, HAMBLE DOWN, DARTMOOR
On the 21st March 1941, this aircraft of No.49 Sqn RAF descended below cloud at night and flew into hillside. The aircraft was returning to base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire following a bombing raid on Lorient in France. Three crew members were killed and fourth later died of his injuries. The mother of the pilot arranged for a large inscribed stone to be erected close to the site. In 1991 the stone was cleaned and a plaque attached. The aircraft struck the hillside approximately 50m SSE of the standing stone but no wreckage is visible.

The Halifax, a 4-engined heavy bomber used by the RAF
31928831677_e9ef294360_b.jpg


A memorial stone marks the site
46817735952_935f4da827_b.jpg


This plaque was erected in 1991
31928353097_893201da07_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 42-100640, HUNTINGDON WARREN, DARTMOOR
Inbound from Villacoubley in France on the 13th October 1945, the aircraft arrived over Exeter at 4000ft but was unable to land as planned due to the weather conditions. While holding over the airfield, the pilot asked if an alternative airfield was available and was recommended RAF Western Zoyland in Somerset. The pilot asked for a QDM (magnetic bearing to a station) but was passed the reciprocal of the required QDM. As a result the aircraft turned on to a south-westerly track, and whilst flying in cloud at an altitude that allowed minimal clearance over terrain on the intended route, hit hillside and disintegrated. 7 crew members were killed. On impact, the aircraft struck the north-east corner of a stone-wall enclosure, with the broken remains of the wings and fuselage then coming to rest on the slope close to the south-west corner of the enclosure. To date, the section of stone wall demolished on impact has not been rebuilt. No wreckage could be seen.

The C47 Skytrain, also known as the Dakota, was a military transport plane developed from the civilian DC-3 airliner
46869630721_f00548f24a_b.jpg


The crash site is the upper square pen seen on the right
46818188392_b943a526b9_b.jpg


About 20m of the drystone wall has been demolished
46818179572_8a88bc1088_b.jpg


No wreckage could be seen in the rubble of the wall
46145293844_e0f8e1ffc9_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-47A SKYTRAIN 43-30733, BROWN WILLY, BODMIN MOOR
On the 23rd December 1943 this USAAF aircraft was flying from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall to Grove Air Station in Oxford. After take-off, the plane belonging to 310th Ferry Squadron, 27th ATG, failed to climb to a suitable altitude and flew into the cloud covered summit of the tor on an easterly tack. All four crew members were killed. A scar containing a few pieces of wreckage remains, where the aircraft burned out by a rock outcrop.

Brown Willy is the highest hill on Bodmin Moor
32994794388_1c63b4bbff_b.jpg


The crash site is an isolated rocky outcrop near to the summit
46145271754_bc78a0d62a_b.jpg


A plaque marks the site
32994768028_39e9453c42_b.jpg


The cleft in the rock caused by the impact
39905243433_06a39e5a94_b.jpg


A lump of melted aluminium
31928760977_dff3fe9649_b.jpg


VICKERS WELLINGTON B. Mk.X LN775, THREE BARROWS, DARTMOOR
After leaving the Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit at RAF Hurn in Dorset for transfer to Mediterranean Air Command on the 1st March 1944, the aircraft drifted 25 miles off the briefed route to Rabat Sale in Morocco. Flying in cloud on a westerly track, the aircraft struck the side of the hill and burned out. Four crew members were killed. It was three days after the crash before the remains of the aircraft were located. At the crash site, within site of the central barrow of Three Barrows, can be found a scar containing a few small pieces of melted aluminium and heat discharged 0.303 in. cartridge cases.

The Vickers Wellington was a twin-engined long-range medium bomber, the RAF’s principal night bomber in the early years of the war, superseded later by the heavier Avro Lancaster
46144872084_06dedbd545_b.jpg


The site is within sight of the summit barrow
46818126172_8bc59d09af_b.jpg


Little wreckage remains
45955782665_4dd5998a97_b.jpg

Electrical components?
46145222344_2dfef455a0_b.jpg


Heat-discharged 0.303in cartridges
31928712867_df684a19e7_b.jpg


46818073042_1ff76825f5_b.jpg


DOUGLAS C-54A SKYMASTER 42-72249, SHARPTOR, BODMIN MOOR
Inbound from Lagers in the Azores to RAF St. Mawgan in Cornwall, on a transport flight on the 18th October 1944, the aircraft crossed the coast and was authorised to descend to 3000ft and position for an approach. After overflying the airfield in cloud the aircraft flew out to the east and attempted to acquire the approach beam. However, the liaison radio equipment onboard was being adversely effected by the weather conditions and the radio compass was inoperative, making acquisition of the beam difficult. After receiving a QDM to RAF Exeter the aircraft turned to the north to intercept the beam. At this point the navigator and check pilot realised a barometric pressure setting received previously, and selected on the altimeters, was incorrect and the aircraft was too low. Before they were able to inform the pilot, the aircraft flew into a downdraught and as the pilot tried to recover airspeed the aircraft hit the ground, skidded across the hilltop and then caught fire. All nine aircrew survived. No.67 MU salvaged the burnt-out remains of the aircraft using a tractor and sledge and now only a boggy scar containing a few tiny fragments of wreckage can be seen at the site.

The Skymaster is a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army in WW2 and the Korean War. It is derived from the civilian DC-4 airliner
46144886694_24b0be061e_b.jpg


A large scar marks the site
45955727925_a8bbc04148_b.jpg


39905169883_52c5841d92_b.jpg


A small pile of wreckage can be seen
46869957581_5118135222_b.jpg


31928648327_dd2676dd9d_b.jpg


Thanks for reading
Bloody good effort that well done you
 

tatyr raker

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
I was quite surprised there is so much left even in bleak conditions I expected nature to take over.

Me too, I've spent a lot of time on Dartmoor, and I'm amazed that much remains of some of the planes after the time that has passed.

Reading the stories along with the pictures is really moving, I don't normally think of Dartmoor as a bleak place, but it's an unforgiving place to end your days.
 

Bertie Bollockbrains

There is no pain
Regular User
My bad.. on rechecking my sources, you're right it is it of course Handley Page Hampden X3054 as opposed to Handley Page Halifax X3054 as stated, the Hampden being a twin-engined medium bomber that was retired in late 1942 and superseded by heavier bombers such as the Avro Lancaster.

Thanks for pointing out the error
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 732) View details

Top