Crash site of a World War two Wellington Bomber which crashed into Carreg Coch in the Brecon Beacons Mountains in 1944.
Image details
Contributor:
Phil Rees / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
D0B53MFile size:
34.9 MB (1,020.6 KB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
4287 x 2848 px | 36.3 x 24.1 cm | 14.3 x 9.5 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
20 November 2012Location:
Carreg Coch, Brecon Beacons, Wales, UKMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
The twisted remains of a World War two Wellington Bomber this afternoon - which crashed into Carreg Coch (Welsh for red stone) high in the Brecon Beacons Mountains in 1944. Today is the 68th anniversary of the crash that killed all the Canadian crew. On the night of 20th November 1944, Wellington MF509 was on a cross-country exercise from 22 Operational Training Unit based at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield near Stratford. The plane developed trouble in the starboard engine and flew into shower clouds, building up heavy layers of ice on the wings. With insufficient power from the port engine, the aircraft lost height and crashed into Garreg Goch killing all six Canadian crew members. All the Crew were interred with full military honours, at the Canadian War Cemetery at Blacon, Chester, England. The wreckage is scattered over a wide area and up until recently, the Canadian families of the crew, new nothing of the circumstances or location of the crash, nor of the existence of the memorial plaque that now stands at Garreg Goch. The Canadian Crew members were Pilot - Sgt Charles Hamel, Navigator - Sgt Jules Robert Rene Villeneuve, Bomb Aimer - Flight Officer William Joseph Allison, Air Gunner Sgt Joseph Paul Ernest Burke, Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Grouix and Air Gunner Sgt Gerard Dusablon. The Brecon Beacons National Park has over 30 aircraft crash sites, but this particular one is the most visible and contains the most wreckage. On November 15th a group of over 100 ramblers gathered at the site to hold a memorial service for the dead flying crew.