On the night of the 2nd and 3rd of September 1942 this Wellington was tasked with a night cross country training flight along with other aircraft from the same training unit, 11 OTU, based at Bassingbourn. They took off and flew north. Bad weather was effecting the Yorkshire Dales area on this night and this aircraft was to fly into it. The crew undoubtably were having trouble with visability in the heavy rain and low cloud. They struck the ground on Gouthwaite Moor, to the north west of Pateley Bridge at around 00.30hrs at a relatively flat angle, all were injured in the crash but all survived.

This accident is one of a few in the Yorkshire Dales which has been covered in a number of books in the last few years, I do not plan on copying these works.

Pilot - F/L P R Coney RNZAF

2nd Pilot - Sgt J Wilding RNZAF

Obs - Sgt Matthew B Grainger RNZAF

Bomb Aimer - Sgt J H F Kemp RAF

W Op / AG - F/Sgt J E Burrel RAF

W Op / AG - Sgt G W Wilford RAF

Rear Gunner - Sgt William G Reader RAF

My wife and I visited the site in August 2005.