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Registration
or Serial:
R1164
Operator: Royal Air Force
(20 Operational Training Unit)
Operating Base: RAF Lossiemouth (ferry flight to); RAF
91 Grp. Bomber OTU; 46 Maintenance Unit (MU); RN HMS Fulmar.
Base
Location: Lossiemouth, Morayshire, 5 miles N of Elgin.
Current
Airport Status: Operational Military Airport
Current
Airport Name:
RAF Lossiemouth (EGQS)
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Nickname: Wimpy (or Wimpey)
Aircraft Type & Background
A medium
bomber, of which there were 16 variants, the first Wellington
bombers were powered by two 1,050 hp Bristol Pegasus Mk. I radial
engines. It had a maximum speed of 235 mph (410 km/h)
The first
Wellingtons entered service with No. 9 Squadron RAF. Later, an
improved version entered service with RAF Bomber Command. The
aircraft carried a crew of six.
Aircraft Accident Details
This
aircraft was on a ferry flight from RAF Kirkbride in Cumberland
(RAF 41 Grp. Maintenance) to RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire, when
it crashed into Box Law in the North Ayrshire hills. The
circumstances surrounding the crash are unknown. However, it is
believed that the ferry pilot—F/O J.F.M. Millar died in the accident
Above: A Wellington bomber returned
home after a raid on Germany. Note the damage to the fuselage. The
geodetic structure of this aircraft must have assisted very considerably
in allowing it to return safely to base. |
Accident Date
25
January 1941
Accident
Site
Box Law
Region: North Ayrshire
Nearest
town or village: Largs
Lying on the hillside SW of Box Law summit
and approximately 250m NW of the de Havilland Devon wreck.
Garmin GPS: NS 25626 60970 (collected debris)
Garmin GPS: NS 25661 60929
(majority of remains)
OS Grid Ref: 63 / NS 256609
Hill Walking
Notes
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
covered 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.
Full hill
walking equipment recommended, including map & compass (GPS
optional). All hill areas subject to fluctuating weather
conditions with extensive mist at times.
Present
Condition
The wreckage was
removed from the site by an RAF recovery team. Fragments
remaining onsite consist mostly of small bits of tubing and
panels.
Below: RAF Vickers Wellington bomber
 Related Links
Articles and photos of RAF Lossiemouth and of the Vickers Wellington
type aircraft are available at the following
sites:
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