Maurader aircraft Crash Accident Site: 3 rd June 1943 – Beinn na Feusaige (625m / 2,051ft) Hill of the beard

Many will know that I am interested in aircraft crash sites in the mountains, this is one site I have not visited yet Maurader aircraft Crash Accident Site: 3 rd June 1943 – Beinn na Feusaige (625m / 2,051ft) This crash site is on the hill of Beinn na Feusaige on the road to Achnasheen SW of the A890. I was sent this letter from a father who lives locally and his young girls are trying to raise some money for a small memorial near the crash site. It is lovely to see that these two young girls are interested in the mountains and want to have the site remembered where the American crew sadly died.

Hello  – My name is Iona. I am ten years old. Me,my sister Isla aged 8 and our friends Ella, Eriskay and Lara McLellan aged 10, 10 and 9 are working on a project to raise money for a plaque for two unknown aeroplane crash sites. We have worked hard on our project. We have made 2 donation boxes and put 1 in our local shop and the other in our local pub. We have been put an article in our local paper the Gairloch and District Times. The Ross-shire Journal also featured us on its front page. This is because sadly one of the donation boxes was broken into. The money taken has been replaced. We also visited the American Consul in Edinburgh. They kindly offered us £100 from their monuments fund. So far we have collected approximately £200 and had a kind donation from a local fundraising shop of £100. The plane crash is near Achnascheen. We all walked up a big hill to see it with a beautiful view at the top. It is the plane crash site of an American plane the Martin B-26C 41-34707. We also want to remember on the plaque another crash which is even less well known and harder to get to which is just over the glen. There is not an impact point just debris spread widely over the hill. This is of the plane Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V P4996: No.78 Sqn, Roth of these planes had 5 crew and sadly all 10 of them died. Also all of the extra money we raise will be going to highland hospice. The Coulin Estate have kindly offered assistance with getting the materials up the steep hill.

We were wondering if the RAF would be able to offer us any help in our project.

Thank you very much  Best wishes

Iona

http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/marauder_beinn-na-feusaige.htm

 USAAF Martin B-26C Marauder 41-34707 was on a transit flight from the USA via Meeks Field (Keflavík, Iceland) to Prestwick in Scotland. This was a recognised aircraft ferry route, which should have taken the Marauder over Stornoway in the Western Isles. However, for some reason, the aircraft was flying too far East of the prescribed course, and therefore over high ground on the Scottish mainland.

As the Marauder continued on its course through mist and rain, it struck the side of Beinn na Feusaige (625m / 2,051ft) in Glen Carron, near Achnasheen [map] on the NW mainland of Scotland.

Accident Site: Beinn na Feusaige (625m / 2,051ft) [map]

(Glen Carron)

Sadly all the airmen died in this accident. The crashed aircraft was destroyed by an ensuing fire.

• 1st Lt Merritt E Young (26) (O-662715), Pilot, USAAF.
  (Buried, Payne, Paulding County, Ohio, USA.)
• 2nd Lt Robert A Anderson (O-729949), Bomb Aimer, USAAF.
  (Buried, Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge, UK.)
• Staff Sgt Vincenzo (Vincent) Bravo (24) (11021367), Flt Engr., USAAF.
  (Buried, Medfield, Massachusetts, USA.)
• Staff Sgt Marshall R Miller (38111816), Radio Op., USAAF.
  (Buried, Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas, USA.)
• Master Sgt Lewis M Cross (14069227), Gnr., USAAF.
  (Buried, Madingley Cemetery, Cambridge, UK.)

Aircraft Type Designation: 179 / B-26 (Medium bomber) 

Aircraft Type Nickname: Widow Maker (due to high casualty rate in early models).

This aircraft was designed for the USAAF as a medium bomber. It first flew with that Air Force in 1942 in the SW Pacific. However, early models earned a reputation for difficult handling and landing characteristics. Later, the B-26 Marauder operated with the Ninth Air Force from bases in the UK.

Depending on the variant, the aircraft could be fitted with two 1,400kW (1,900hp) or two 1491kW (2,000hp) Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-43 radial engines.

The Marauder had a maximum speed of 460kmh (287mph) at 1,500m (5,000ft), and a service ceiling of 6,400m (21,000ft). Armament consisted of two 0.50 gun in the nose, and also in the waist, dorsal and tail turrets. It had a maximum bomb load of 1,814.37kgs (4,000lbs).

3 Jun 1943 – Accident Site: Beinn na Feusaige (625m / 2,051ft) [map]

(Glen Carron) Nearest main road: A890

Comments – J Henderson – ”  have been to this crash site on my first visit to this hill, but could not find it on a second visit. I think it is SW of the summit and not particularly large. It is a long scorched scar on the hill side with a small amount of metal debris.”

Beinn Fuesalage Crash site Photo Andy Lawson