DescriptionA small area of burnt ground is still visible.
Any remains of this aircraft are designated as a Protected Place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. For further information on this Act and its administration with regard to aircraft, please contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1RZ.
Event and Historical Information:
This Anson was one of 500 delivered to the RAF by Avro, Chadderton, to contract 766119/38 between October 1938 and September 1939. Its service history includes assignments to 12 ERFTS, 12 EFTS, 1 CANS, 1 AONS, and lastly to 9 AOS. The flight on 20 April 1942 was to familiarise the observers with some of the beacons and other lights used as navigational aids. The Anson had flown over Llandudno Bay and passed over Menai Bridge, when it struck and cartwheeled up the slope Foel Fras. The crew comprised Sgts Les Cooper and T J Cilly, observers, plus pilot Sgt C C Symonds and wireless operator D J Stokes. The pilot had to be released from his harness and he was hanging upside down. Crilly was thrown against the navigator's table and his chest was crushed and he died. Stokes inflated the dinghy and made an impromptu shelter for the three survivors. He also found a fuel tap and managed to light a fire using parts of the plane Stokes explored the landscape, but found he had reached the 600ft cliffs of Llyn Dulyn in the dark and so returned to the fire until dawn. An aircraft flew over and the survivors released the Verey pistol flare and were dropped some spirits and cigarettes. A farmer arrived to investigate and, later in the afternoon, the RAF rescue team arrived. The aircraft remains were burnt by 34 Maintenance Unit after the any useful parts had been salvaged.
Sources include:
Doylerush, E, 1999, No landing Place Volume 2: More Tales of Aircraft Crashes in Snowdonia, pg62-3
Doylerush, E, 2002, No Landing Place: A Guide to Aircraft Crashes in Snowdonia, pg90
Halley, J J, 1993, Royal Air Force Aircraft L1000 to N9999, pg156
Halley, J J, 1977, Royal Air Force Aircraft N1000 to N9999, pg28
Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, December 2013.
