Anson 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 04.30 hrs the aircraft flew into Swirl How, to the north of Coniston. Sadly the pilot and two other airmen were killed in the accident.

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.

After many years of trying to compile the full crew list this is now possible thanks to Mr Chris Charles-Worth. The only other published source Hurst's book on Lakeland crashes only credits the pilot and two unknowns.

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 depicts what is assumed to be close to the impact point high up on the hillside.

The 1996 trip.. an Anson engine and Steve Sutherland. The 2003 trip.. Will Lund and myself with the same engine.

This was one of the first crash sites I ever visited, I visited the area in 1996 with Ben Thompson and Steve Sutherland. We located an engine in a stream before descending due to failing light. Since this trip I have visited these engines a number of times on the way over to the Halifax on Great Carrs.

The other engine nearby, photographed in 2002. No trace of the Spitfire was found.

On one of my return trips, this time with Will Lund and Caroline (my then girlfriend, now wife) in May 2003, once again we located the engines and also went up the hill and found the impact point where a small amount of wreckage remains.

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.