Aircraft Wrecks - A Walkers Guide

[SnailRFC]

I stumbled across a website a little while ago which documented countless air crashes over the British Isles, this after watching an article on BBC1's Countryfile about plane wreckage from before and after the Second World War, strewn across the Pennines and Peak District. http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/

It fascinated me so I became more and more intrigued into this. I then found the following book on amazon

So I'm going to be setting aside some time over the next few months and years to actually look up some of these and go and take a look and pay respects to all those who died bravely for this country over time, but was wondering a couple of things firstly;
1 - Has anybody else on here heard about this before
2 - Has anybody been to actually see any of the wreckage on the hills and mountains across the UK
3 - Any tips from anybody who has been.

(Thinking about heading to the Peak district first)

I know it's possibly a pretty grim subject for some, but there's something eerily fascinating about going and finding the remains of these planes.

Hope to hear back from you all soon.

Cheers

Brian

[Xplumberlives]

Hello Brian

I visited a site in Derbyshire many years ago whilst in the RAF, I seem to remember it was the remains of a Wellington bomber. There wasn't much left to see, only small pieces of metal, I think all of the heavy stuff like engines sink into the peat.

Wear/take lots of warm/waterproof clothing and charge up your mobile phone! Also inform someone of where you are going and your expected return time, just in case the weather closes in or you hurt yourself.

Dave

[Mayfly]

Goodness as serious response from XP things must be looking up!!

Can't say as I can help you Brian but I bet it's fascinating just to do some of these walks... please let us know if you see anything.

Agree with XP tho' about taking great care - best of luck!!!

[Dougs]

been to the one up above howden res. (bleaklow stones) i think, there were small bits left the down side is its a very long walk so XP is right on, take a mobile the reception is a bit patchey but useable i would say use a GPS as well as the cloud comes in quick up there and there are no ref points! i have some mates at rolls royce who have done a lot of the wrecks including some jets he said there was not much left! watch out its addictive. enjoy

just noticed it has been removed

[Gully]

Mate of mine was on a course out of Glenmore Lodge a few years ago. His group was up on Cairngorm when they heard the sound of jet engines followed by an almightly explosion. Few minutes later all the Glenmore Lodge radios went off warning the instructors to evacuate certain areas and the Mountain Rescue people to head for the site of an American F15 that had found the hillside in the mist...

Anyway, there are loads of bits of aircraft all over the UK hills - photographed quite a few over the years (sadly, pretty much all of them on slide so I can't post here). Always fascinating to know their stories. The above book was on my Christmas pressie list, but didn't appear in my stocking...

Gully

[Gaz]

I know what you mean about this sort of thing being strangely fascinating. I'd be intrigued to see any pics you might get

[Xplumberlives]

Mate of mine was on a course out of Glenmore Lodge a few years ago. His group was up on Cairngorm when they heard the sound of jet engines followed by an almightly explosion. Few minutes later all the Glenmore Lodge radios went off warning the instructors to evacuate certain areas and the Mountain Rescue people to head for the site of an American F15 that had found the hillside in the mist...

Anyway, there are loads of bits of aircraft all over the UK hills - photographed quite a few over the years (sadly, pretty much all of them on slide so I can't post here). Always fascinating to know their stories. The above book was on my Christmas pressie list, but didn't appear in my stocking...

Gully

I seem to remember that was the day Two lakenheath F15s went in!

[SnailRFC]

Off to the Lake District on 12th April, so if I find anything on any planned walks I shall post up the pictures on here.

[Nickolas]

Ok Post up where you are going/staying etc and we expect you to check in every day.
If you don't keep in touch then Mayfly gets scrambled and it had better not be a hoax. YOU would not want to get on the wrong side of MF would you??

[SnailRFC]

We have wireless in the B+B so that shouldn't be an issue!

[Lucas1860]

Have a look at "Over Exposed", a B29 that went down on the Peaks, I have visited this site. There is still a large amount of the aircraft on the site. The Peak district has loads of aircraft wrecks. Two books have been published. Dark Peak Aircraft Wrecks 1 and 2. Some of the sites have very little in the way of debris, just melted metal etc, the others just a cross to mark the site. I have posted some pictures on Google Earth of my visit to Over Exposed. It is between the A57 and A628. My user name is jimyorkred for google, This is by far the easiest crash site to reach. It is visible on google earth as you zoom in.

Heres a link to amazon


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Peak-Aircr ... 0850524571

[SnailRFC]

Sadly, I was quite ill for my stay in the lakes and a bad chest infection hampered any major walking until Friday, but at that point, the 3000 feet plus near Coniston was too much for me to go and find the closest wreck but hoping for a peak district trip in the coming months.