On 20th January 1943 this aircraft was being ferried from Rearsby airfield in Leicestershire to RNAS Twatt on the Orkney Islands by a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary, possibly to join 771 Squadron FAA who were based there. The route he was had already flown and was yet to fly is not yet known other than the pilot was flying a leg between Squires Gate and Prestwick, and following the coast when the accident occurred. He would probably have landed at Prestwick to refuel and stay overnight prior to the flight further north resuming. During the flight between Squires Gate and Prestwick the visibility reduced while flying in the south-lakeland area the pilot appears to have become uncertain of where he was. He began circling the Ulpha area and then the aircraft's engine failed, while attempting a landing the aircraft stalled while making a turn. Being at a low height there was not room to re-gain control and it crashed into trees near Ulpha Farm, Meathop at 15.30hrs and caught fire. This was the first time the pilot had flown the Henley type. Part of the wreckage was later taken away and inspected to try and discover the cause of the engine failure, it was found that water was present in the petrol system which had caused the engine to fail.
Pilot - 2nd Officer Ramchandra Murlidhar Badhe ATA. aged 38, of India. Cremated Golders Green, Middlesex.
Ramchamdra Murlidhar Badhe was born 7th August 1905 in Sangar, India and was the son of Murlidharpunt and Laxmibai Badhe. He gained a Master of Science degree at Nagpur University. He trained as a pilot in the UK and was awarded his Royal Aero Club aviator's certificate (Cert.No.9121) on 29th May 1930 following training at the Hanworth aero club flying school. He also worked as a fitter / assembler at the Heston Aircraft Company, Hounslow, Middlesex. He later joined the ATA in June 1941. He was the pilot of Oxford V3389 that collided with Oxford DF240 on the ground at White Waltham on 24th September 1942. He was also the ATA pilot of Spitfire ES147 that crashed at Church Fenton on 16th November 1942 in trying to avoid people on the ground. Where his ashes were either scattered or buried is not known. His casualty file, now held by the National Archives, holds a letter dated in 1962 from his brother to the ATA (forwarded to the Air Ministry). In 1962 his brother lived in the Mahal district of Nagpur, India and it is likely that he has surviving family.
The location of the crash site is controlled by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust from whom we obtained a special permit to gain access to the woodland outside of the Osprey season. We thank the organisation for their assistance in being able to locate and record the site.
The largest find on the surface at the site is this small panel which I think is one of the small panels that surround the exhaust stacks.
A couple of fragments of the aircraft with Gloster manufacturers stamps.
Always a poinient find at a crash site are parts of a parachute pack.