Crash details - 4(O)AFU West Freugh

[RussG]

Hi All,

I am looking for details of a crash on landing from a cross country (probably an Anson) at West Freugh on 7th May 1944.

AND

the crash of an Anson (again probably) on a cross country exercise from West Freugh on 23rd July 1944.

Sorry the details are so slender.

Many thanks again,

Russ

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello Russ,

Only thing I can come up with is the following:-

21-7-1944
4(O)AFU
Anson I MG356
Night Navex.

Struck Bennan Nrach, Lainachan Hill, 6 miles north of Newton Stewart, Kirkudbright.

Crew:
AUS410957 F/Sgt(Pilot) Raymond John CROTTY RAAF +
AUS432683 Sgt(Nav.U/T.) Darius Bede NORTHMORE RAAF +
AUS407993 W/O(Staff W.Op./Air Gnr.) Peter SMITH RAAF +
1603389 Sgt(Pupil AB) Bertram Ernest William BECKER +
1851841 Sgt (W.Op/Air Gnr. U/T) Edward Hugh Patrick GRESSWELL +

See: NAA: A705 166/8/563

Col.

[Dave Smith]

Just for the record, because the RAF obviously got the spellings a little wrong or else the writing is illegible, MG356 crashed on the Bennanbrack area of Lamachan Hill. To add to the confusion, a 1960s-vintage OS map spells it Bennanbrackie! This is a very rough and remote area of high ground and wreckage still exists.

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello Dave,

The casualty signal actually reads; Top of Bennanbrack near Lainachan Hill, approx. 0450 hrs.
likewise 765(C).

I used old notes (from the Anson File I think), also had a peek at High Ground Wrecks (4th ed.). Can't remember the author! Just kidding.

Thanks for many enjoyable hours with old AN and Fly Past articles.

Col.

[RussG]

Thanks Col and Dave,

I found that one by googling but thats not the crash I am after, it was definately the 23rd and I don't think there were any casualties. It could have been that it was a forced landing rather than a crash which is why nothing is showing up. The log entry says 'Eng U/S Forced down... out all night'.

The first incident however ( 7th May 1944) states 'crashed on landing... What a mess' so I am presuming that this was a category crash.

Russ

[alclark]

There is no entry in the ORB for 4 (O)AFU for either of these dates, though their recording of MG356 wasn't upto much either.