Fairy Lochs - USAF Liberator - Walk to Crash Site

skyenet

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While up sailing from Badechro with Bhuda in his yacht he mentioned a local walk to the crash site of a USAF Liberator plane at the Fairy Lochs.

The Fairy Lochs are a small group of lochans approximately 2 miles (3 km) SE of the village of Badachro near Gairloch in Wester Ross, Scotland.

USAAF Liberator Crash
On June 13, 1945, a USAAF Liberator bomber (serial 42-95095) became lost while returning servicemen home to the USA at the end of World War II, and crashed here with loss of all those on board (9 crew and 6 passengers).
The area is classed as a war grave and visitors are expected not to disturb the remnants of the wreckage. A memorial plaque, listing those lost, has been erected by the families and friends of those killed.

Our first attempt to reach the crash site got stopped by an attack of "cleggs" (or horsefly which were far worse than midgies). I wasn't too bad but Skye and Kaitlyn were obviously quite tasty to them.

We were camping with friends so the next morning I managed to arrange some time to try it again myself. It can be a very boggy walk though it does follow a rough path. It had been reasonable dry for a good spell and there were only a few wet patches. Still plenty cleggs around but I kept up a fair pace and wasn’t too bothered with them.

Directions to the crash site

There is a fair sized parking area on the south side of the B8056 just west of the Shieldaig hotel. Walk east along the road, passing the hotel, before turning right onto a track - marked by a public footpath sign and mountainous country warning. Go along the track, and at the fork after the building veer left. Continue for another 100 metres to a cairn, where a path goes off left; turn up this path.

A short distance on, the path forks once more at another cairn; again veer left. This path heads up towards the birchwood and passes through part of it, continuing to climb uphill. The surface is rough, both rocky and boggy, and care is needed to stay on route especially where the path bears right across some wet ground - don't continue straight ahead to where the stream comes down. There are cairns at intervals along the way, which after the turn continues uphill to reach a high point at another cairn. There are good views back over Loch Gairloch, and from the highpoint, forward to Baosbheinn ('The Wizard's Mountain').

Beyond, the path descends towards one of the lochans. There is a pile of aircraft remains next to a rock, together with a nearby engine whilst a propeller sticks out of the loch. It is a dedicated war memorial and it is forbidden to move any of the wreckage.

The Commemorative Plaque


FairyLochCrashSite01.jpg



FairyLochCrashSite02_2.jpg


The Liberator's flightpath view


FairyLochCrashSite04.jpg




One of the propellors


FairyLochCrashSite12.jpg



The remains of one of the engines



FairyLochCrashSite10.jpg



more photos here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skyenet/sets/72157620898581605/
 
It might just be on my works PC (don't really see how though?) but all the photos come up as red cross pics. :confused:
 
Maybe the Red Cross were involved in the search and rescue :blast
 
It might just be on my works PC (don't really see how though?) but all the photos come up as red cross pics. :confused:

Had uploaded to flicker and used the share link but didn't seem to work as I got the red crosses as well :( . So quickly setup a photobucket account and did the links which now work. :thumb
 
Had uploaded to flicker and used the share link but didn't seem to work as I got the red crosses as well :( . So quickly setup a photobucket account and did the links which now work. :thumb

I can see them noo :thumb2
 
I'm surprised they left that skeleton there! (in the second pic)

:clap and that was me after a good feed ;)

I wonder if the bodies of the aircrew were recovered. Its quite an eerie place to be and I am amazed at the amount of wreckage lying about. It appears that the vast majority of visitors respects the site. I felt it was a coincidence that I was there on July the 4th, being an American celebration. Just a shame these young men never made it home for the July 4th celebrations in 1945 :(
 
Very sad, especially when you look at the ages of the guys on-board.
 
That area is home, or a couple of miles from it. Walked up there many times, unfortunately not the only crash site in the area, but as you say, at least wreckage is left, generally. Maybe because it's not by the road less is nicked

nj
 
Visited the site about 15 years ago, when on holiday in Gairloch.
On the way back down, I passed a couple of people struggling to carry dive cylinders and kit up the hill path.
Loch didn't seem deep enough to warrant carrying anything heavier than a snorkel!
 
Makes you think abit about the crew, with being so young.

When I was at Edinburgh Airport a B17 (Flying Fortress) came in before heading for East Fortune Open Day. The guys who were flying her let us clamber on board and have a good look round.

The tail gunner was normally only about 17. He had to climb in before take off and kneel the whole flight. He was most often the first to be killed as he was exposed and open on three sides.

This aircraft had a captain who was 21 when he took her over. Average crew age - 19.

We cringe when we see a Citroen Saxo going by with some youngsters on board, let alone letting them loose with a war machine!

I had real difficulty moving about the plane due to my stab proof vest and kit (and stomach if truth be told) and I can imagine it was a noise cold place to spend 8 hours.

Brave guys indeed.
 


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