Attached on the wall rock behind the aircraft wreckage forming a simple memorial.

A rectangular, dark, and vertically-oriented plaque inscribed in English in white lettering inside with a white border. The insignia of the 8^th and 9^th Air Forces are engraved on the top left and right-hand side of the plaque, painted in colors. The plaque commemorates all the men aboard who all died in the crash during World War II.

Throughout the summer of 1945, the USAAF was re-positioning personnel, either for demobilization in the USA or to the Pacific for the continuing war against Japan. Many aircrews were returned to the US by air, either in aircraft which were destined for the Pacific or ones which were simply being used as ferry aircraft before being put into storage for eventual disposal.

One of these flights was being made with a B-24H #42-95095 of the 44th Bombardment Group. It had been flown to BAD2 at Warton and then on to Prestwick. It was to fly from Prestwick to Meeks Field at Keflavik in Iceland before its final leg across the North Atlantic to the USA. #42-95095 took off from Prestwick under instrument flying conditions at about 14:00 on the 13th of June and flew northwards, its planned route taking the aircraft via the Isle of Skye to overhead Stornaway before heading out over the Atlantic to Iceland.

As it approached the NW coast near Gairloch the aircraft was in serious difficulties, rapidly descending through the clouds in a gentle turn to port. At 15:25, the B-24 crashed killing all on board, and was completely destroyed by fire. The crash site is at least 25 miles to the East of the intended track from Prestwick to Stornaway but is only a few miles off the direct track.

While the accident investigators were not able to make any firm conclusions they suggested the most likely reason for the crash was an uncontrollable engine fire as parts had come off the aircraft before impact and they showed signs of fire damage. The report surmised that after being unable to extinguish the fire the crew was trying to crash land before the aircraft broke apart but struck the rocky ground surrounding Sidhean Mor and the ‘Fairy Lochans’ while still in cloud and exploded.

Today much of the wreckage remains where the plane crashed. Pieces of fuselage lie in the bogs and a propeller and an engine can be seen protruding from the lochan. The area is classed as a war grave and visitors are expected not to disturb the wreckage. The memorial plaque listing those who died was erected by the families and friends of those killed.

Source of information: www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org

Source of photos: Google Maps, www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk, http://www.rosswarmemorials.org.uk

U.S.A.A.F

IN MEMORY OF THE CREW AND PASSENGERS OF A

B-24-H LIBERATOR BOMBER SERIAL NO.42-95095

WHICH BECAME LOST WHILE RETURNING TO THE

U.S.A. ON JUNE 13th, 1945, AND CRASHED AT THIS

PLACE WITH THE LOSS OF ALL ON BOARD.

CREW   :    66th   BOMB   SQUADRON    :   44th   BOMB    GROUP   (H)

PASSENGERS

This plaque was sponsored by their families and friends.