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Halifax DK116 Crashsite.

Made a visit up to the crash site of Halifax DK 116 on Glendhu Hill yesterday after a failed attempt last year with my brother, with it being in a very remote area of Keilder forest I decided on accessing via Kershope forest this time.

Parking at the Cuddy's Hall picnic area and biking up to Glendhu which is about 6 hard miles then I stashed the bike before heading across the boggy moor, I went into the forest at "Robinson's Gears" were I was hoping it would be easier walking however this was short-lived and was no easier. It felt like I was walking for an age before I came across the crashsite at Marven's Cleugh (about a 1.5mile hike from the bike)

I thought the trees around the site might have been harvested since I was last here 6 years back but no still as it was .

A new more substantial cross has been erected and still lots of wreckage surrounds the area thanks to the remoteness.

After paying my respects I trudged back over the moor to my bike and thankfully it was mostly downhill back to the car.

This in my opinion is the easiest and quickest way to access but no easier due to still having to cross the moor.

 

On Sunday 15th/Monday 16th October 1944, (N1870) at 22.00 During a cross country exercise from RAF Sandtoft ,Lincs Halifax V DK116/GG-Z of 1667HCU suffered a fire on the inner port engine at 12000 ft. Three of the crew managed to bail out, but four crew stayed with the aircraft to assist the rear gunner who had difficulty in escaping from his turret. The aircraft crashed into Glendhu Hill, Kielder, Northumberland killing the four remaining crewmen.

The crew were:

Pilot: P/O H.G. Haddrell - Killed

Navigator: Sgt J Mahoney - Survived

F/E: Sgt J Neilson - Killed

W/Op: Sgt Reid - Survived

W/Op: Sgt M.F. James - Killed

A/G: Sgt Hammond - Survived

R/G: W/O G Symmonds - Killed

 

This site is protected by Military Remains Act 1986

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Uploaded on April 4, 2017