DH Devon VP969

Slaty Law/Box Law, Largs, Ayrshire

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Operator/Nationality

Operating Country

UK (RAF - Transport / Maintenance Command)

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Michael (Glasgow Airport Fire Service), Brandan Binns (11), Gio Metra, Steve White and Stevie for kindly providing photos for this page and for the Photo Gallery.

Copyright Notice

All photographic material remains the property of the original author, and may not be reproduced elsewhere without that author's prior written permission.

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Advisory

Easily accessible low rising moorland / hill slopes with some rough or boggy ground in places. Avoid approach from S of Box Law (except by quad bike track) as this area is extensively overgrown with dead gorse / bracken and is difficult to traverse on foot. Also, open and hazardous drainage ditch network in vicinity of Box Law is concealed from view by the heavy under / overgrowth.

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: de Havilland DH-104 Devon XA880 of RAF Kemble in the livery of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE).

DH-104 Devon XA880 of RAF Kemble

Photo: 2007 Brian Burnell. Released by the author to the public domain under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Aircraft Type and Background

RAF de Havilland DH-104 Devon / VP969

(RAF Personal Transport)

A military (non-combat) aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force.

Attached to 45 Group RAF Maintenance Command Communications Squadron, this aircraft was assigned for the personal use of Air Marshall Sir Richard Jordan, who was AOC-in-C (Air Officer Commanding in Chief) of Maintenance Command.

Aircraft Accident Details

At the time of the accident, the aircraft had been flying from the Isle of Man to Renfrew (possibly, the former military airfield at Abbotsinch). At Renfrew, it was to collect passengers bound for the former RAF Andover airfield, which was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force base station. However, while flying over the Largs hills, the aircraft encountered turbulence and crashed just below Box Law.*

* Many thanks to Michael of B.A.A. Glasgow Airport Fire Service for updating / verifying this information.

Aircraft Crew

The pilot of this aircraft survived. He was:

Flt/Lt Barney Barclay

Crash Site Photos

BELOW: An overall view of the remaining wreckage as it appeared in July 2009.

This excellent photo shows clearly the two engines (now detached from the mainplane) and the main landing gear on the (inverted) wing assembly. The wing fuel tanks are also visible and part of the tail plane lies in the background.

overall view of de havilland devon wreckage at slaty law

BELOW: Overall view of the de Havilland Devon wreckage, including wings, engines and tail section.

Feuside Hill and Irish Law can be seen in the distance.

overall view of de havilland devon wreckage. Feuside Hill and Irish Law can be seen in the background

BELOW: The remaining wreckage of the Devon as it appeared in 1974.

The de Havilland Devon's wings and remains of engine housings or nacelles can be seen here. Of the tail plane, the horizontal stabiliser lies on the ground toward the rear of the aircraft. The detached vertical stabiliser / rudder assembly lies just to the right of the aircraft's wings.

overview of wreckage - wings engines and tail. This photo was taken in 1974

Photo: 1974 Gordon Lyons

BELOW: Remains of the main wing from the de Havilland Devon crash near Slaty Law and Box Law. The now-faded registration number (VP969) can be seen on the wing.

The Firth of Clyde can be seen in the distance, with Bute, Mull of Kintyre, and Arran just visible.

remains of wing from de havilland devon. Firth of Clyde can be seen in distant background

BELOW: One of the landing gear struts projecting from the upturned wing. The wheel well and some of the electrical equipment can also be seen.

landing gear strut projecting from upturned wing

BELOW: One of the two Gipsy Major engines from the RAF DH-104 de Havilland Devon.

one of the two engines from the de havilland devon

BELOW: This photograph was taken in 1975. At this time, the two power plant or engine assemblies were still attached to the wing structure. In more recent years, they and other parts have become separated from the wing.

wings and engines as the wreckage appeared in 1975