This air-ambulance Domonie, a military variant of the civilian Dragon Rapide, was being used on Saturday, 30th August 1946 to transport a seriously ill patient from Abbottsinch, Glasgow to Rochester, Kent for treatment. The aircraft was due to land at RNAS Stretton near Warrington, probably to re-fuel but flew into bad weather on the first half of the flight. While flying at around 2,500 feet the aircraft flew into high ground on Broad Crag, part of the Scafell range and all on board were killed in the crash. The wreckage was located the following morning by an Anson crew searching for the aircraft, the RAF Mountain Rescue team searching for the site reported the weather to be severe when they carried out their search with the bodies being located and recovered by Sunday evening. This incident being one of the first for the Team using walkie-talkie radio sets to assist their communications.
Pilot - Sub Lt(A) Sidney Kenneth Kilsby RNVR (HMS Merlin), aged 24, of Edmonton, Middlesex. Buried Dunfermline (Douglas Bank) Cemetery, Fifshire.
Airman - Chief Petty Offocer Harold John Clark RN (FX82398)(HMS Merlin), aged 25, of Merstham. Cremated Mitcham, South London.
Surgeon - Commander Surgeon William Tudor Gwynne-Jones RN (HMS Orlando), aged 54. Buried Weston Mill Cemetery, Plymouth (Sec C Cons, Grave 13643).
Sick Berth Attendant - Leslie Howard Watkinson RN (C/MX 782148)(HMS Merlin), aged 19, of Skellow. Buried Owston Churchyard, South Yorkshire.
Patient - CWM Charles Robert Allwright DSM RN(ret) (HMS Orlando), aged 61, of Fetcham, Surrey. Buried Dunfermline (Douglas Bank) Cemetery, Fifeshire (A/58).
The passenger/patient Charles Allwright was born in Kent in September 1884. He was commended for good service during the Battle of Jutland, Gazetted on 15th September 1916 and later received the DSM for service as a sick berth steward also during the Battle of Jutland and was Gazetted on 29th December 1916.
One of the aircraft's engines in a reasonably good condition.
The other engine in a poorer condition.
The main concentration of remaining wreckage and where a crude memorial cross has been erected, Sam Beck (showing scale) also makes his debut on this website! This photo is taken from exactly the same location as one shown in David Smith's 1st edition of his High Ground Wrecks and Relics book.