Anson EG686 on Swirl How, Coniston Fells.

Anson AG686 on Swirl How, Coniston Fells.

On the 20th of March 1944 the crew on board this aircraft were undertaking a navigation exercise, the planned route being Cark, Dumfries, Isle of Man, Blackpool, and returning to Cark. Because of a navigation error the aircraft overshot Cark but realising the error the pilot turned back and attempted to return to Cark. At 04.30hrs the aircraft flew into Swirl How, to the north of Coniston and sadly the pilot and two other airmen in the aircraft were killed.

The following day and inspite of bad weather a search from the air was conducted and led by CO W/C Jim Gibb AFC in a Magister, he located the wreckage and directed Millom MRU to site. When the aircraft was being recovered an unknown Spitfire was found nearby, this aircraft was previously reported missing sometime previously, its pilot had also been killed. This Spitfire was recovered and was eventually repaired to fly again.

Pilot - Sgt Kenneth M Snelling RAFVR (1388379), aged 20, of Holloway, London. Buried Islington Cemetery, London (sec O, block 2, grave 21403P).

Pilot - Sgt Kenneth J Brettell RAF (552030), aged ? Of Barry, Wales. Buried Barry (Merthyr Dyfan) Burial Ground (sec R, grave 1776).

WOp/AG - Sgt Walter W (Wally) Younger RAFVR (1289632), aged 23, of Worthing, Sussex. Buried Durrington Cemetery, Worthing, Sussex (sec 2, row 10, grave 29)..

Sgt Wally Younger RAFVR (photo kindly supplied by his grand-daughter Mrs Karen Kelly). Sgt Younger and his wife Lorna were expecting a child when he lost his life. This accident meant he was to never meet his baby son.

This was the first crash sites I ever visited, back in 1996 with Ben Thompson and Steve Sutherland. We located an engine in a stream before retreating to Coniston due to failing light. Since this trip I have visited these engines a number of times. On one of my return trips with Will Lund we went up the hill and found an area close to the impact point where a small amount of burnt wreckage remains.

This photograph shows where part of the aircraft fell down off the higher rocks and burnt out.

The other engine nearby, photographed in 2002.

I again revisited the engines in July 2004, with Will Lund, Wayne Elliott, Nick Humble, Ed Everson and my brother Nick - prior to getting married.

I have never found any trace of the Spitfire reputed to have crashed in this area.