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Registration
or Serial:
K6255
Operator: Royal Air Force
Operating Base: RAF Abbotsinch
/ RN HMS Sanderling
Base
Location: Abbotsinch, near Renfrew / Paisley / Glasgow
Current
Airport Status: Operational
Civil Airport
Current
Airport Name: Glasgow International Airport
(EGPF) See also Glasgow International Airport at
Wikipedia
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Type Nickname: Faithful Annie
Aircraft Type & Background
Based on
the design of an earlier Avro civilian aircraft, the the Avro Anson
was developed into a multi-role military aircraft, used frequently
for coastal reconnaissance and air crew training purposes.
Capable of
carrying a crew of three or four, the Anson was used both by the Royal Air
Force and the Fleet Air Arm. It was also in use by air forces
abroad, including the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal
Canadian Air Force.
Usually, Mark 1
Ansons were powered by two 350hp Armstrong Siddeley
Cheetah radial engines. Occasionally, however, other types would be
substituted. The aircraft had a top speed of about 188 mph (164
knots or 303 km/h) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m).
Aircraft Construction
Tubular
steel, spruce and plywood covering, with Bakelite and plywood wings.
Aircraft Accident Details
(From revised data provided by S.
Hayton, and sourced in part from the
Greenock Telegraph)
The Anson
featured here was attached to the reformed 269 Squadron of the RAF.
Some later versions of the Anson continued in service with the RAF until as late as 1968.
Anson K6255 was part of a
flight of 15 aircraft on a flight from RAF Abbotsinch [Glasgow] to
Belfast [possibly, RAF Nutts Corner or RAF Aldergrove]
and back. The accident took place on the return leg. Due to bad
weather they were ordered to separate and make their own way back. There
were several near misses of the hillside.
On the flight's return [to Abbotsinch] there was an immediate
flash radio message to all police stations in the area for the
[missing] aircraft. (Could it be that someone in another aircraft
saw the strike?)
The police search was led by Sgts. Dick and
Galbraith. (I later served under Sgt. Galbraith's son, who was an
Inspector at Greenock.)
The Crew were:
-
Pilot Sgt Robson.
-
L/ac Ball.
-
Ac Ward
-
Mr. Harold John Reynolds
Mr. Harold J Reynolds, of 157 Nithsdale Road,
Glasgow, was a member of the
Civil Air Guard.
Mr Reynolds had a serious head injury. Reports suggest that one crew
member had a broken leg and arm splinted by using parts of the
airframe!! Others had head injuries.
Injuries were treated at the locus prior to
removal by Dr. S. K. Drainer from Peterhead who was holidaying
nearby. All were treated at the then Greenock Royal Infirmary (now
demolished).
The Anson was badly damaged. Information suggests
that the rudder was torn off and the wings were in several wooden
bits (consistent with the structure of the Annie). Both engines bent
and torn off. There was a trail of a trough cut by the fuselage from
a mound to the dyke were it came to rest [see crash photo
below].
According to local sources the wreck was dug into
the nearby ground and covered over, but according to the local press
there was a party of airmen who came later to dismantle it. Possibly
to remove weapons, radios, etc. and then to dig in the wreck.
Unfortunately all the witnesses involved have now
passed over but in a chat with a local farmer he has told me that
his father was asked to loan a tractor with a bulldozer blade to the
Air Force, which certainly goes towards the buried wreck comments.
[Above information was kindly provided by Stephen Hayton.]
According
to RAF historical records, the pilot of this Anson—Sgt.
Robson—initially survived the crash. He may then have proceeded to
seek help. Some time later, however, the pilot died from the effects of his
injuries. Sgt. Robson was the only fatality among the crew.
Photo of
accident scene available here:
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Accident Date
26 July 1939
Accident
Site
Cauldron Hill / No. 1
Dam
(vicinity
of Dunrod Hill)
Region: Inverclyde
Nearest
town or village: Greenock
or Inverkip
After its wing struck the high ground above Shielhill Glen,
the crippled aircraft continued northward for a short
distance before finally crashing to the ground between Cauldron
Hill and the now disused No. 1 Dam.
Very little of the wreck now remains
in view. However, one of the
Cheetah engine parts, together with a plaque, remains on
display on lower ground—at the West end of
Cornalees
Visitor's Centre car park. It is, therefore, accessible
to the public.
OS Grid Ref:
63 / NS 237730
(crash site only. No wreckage found at this location.)
Garmin GPS: NS23952
73028
(Second Cheetah engine, W of disused No. 1 Dam)
Hill Walking
Notes
This area is easily accessible from Loch Thom Cottage track
and hill climb, or by the Scroggie Bank telecommunications
masts track, to reservoir track leading to No. 1 Dam (now
disused & drained).
Present Condition
One
Cheetah radial engine is on display at Cornalees Visitors Centre by
Loch Thom.
The second engine is lying in a
burn flowing from the reservoir spillway, and is located about 1000
yards below and NW of the disused No. 1 Dam. However, this engine is
partly concealed by long grass overhanging the burn. No. 1
Dam is the disused and drained reservoir closest to
Dunrod Hill.
It can be difficult to spot this
engine, except by following the course of this burn NW from
No. 1 Dam or by using the GPS references provided above.
This engine is in poorer
condition than the one on display at Cornalees car park.
However, it is still clearly recognisable as a Cheetah
engine.
It is believed that much of the remaining wreckage—fuselage, wings,
etc.—was buried onsite; but the precise location is unknown.
Related Links
Articles and photos of the Avro Anson are available at the following
sites:
Below: Avro Anson Mk. 1
in pre-war livery
Photo:
uboat.net
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