Category Archives: Aircraft incidents

Sept 1978 – Dutch Atlantic aircraft crashed in the sea off Colonsay . All crew recovered safely.

Posted on June 8, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

14 September 1978 – A Dutch surveillance Breguet crashed in the sea west of Scotland after the explosion of the right RollsRoyce engine. Everyone was okay and they were all rescued by helicopter. The sea luckily was flat calm and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Friends, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, People, Well being | 1 Comment

The mystery of the Wellington aircraft crash on the Island of Soay near St Kilda.

Posted on May 29, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

SOAY CRASH INVESTIGATION. Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Books, Islands, Mountain rescue, Mountaineering, Other hills Grahams & Donalds, People, Weather, Well being, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Short Sunderland 111 ML858 Crash – St Kilda – 7 June 1944 – A visit in May 2022.

Posted on May 29, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

The Sunderland aircraft crashed on a navigation exercise from a flight out of Oban. I have been very fortunate to visit this sad Crash site on the remote Island of St Kilda on two occasions in 2014 and May 2020. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Books, Corbetts and other hills, Sailing trips, Weather, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Thinking of those who lost loved ones on the isle of Harris Shackleton crash on this day in 30 April 1990. Also all those involved in the recovery of the crew .

Posted on April 30, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

On 30 April 1990, a Royal Air Force Avro Shackleton AEW Mk II aircraft, of No. 8 Squadron RAF, based at RAF Lossiemouth, crashed into a hill on the Isle of Harris. This crash effected many and will bring memories … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Mountain rescue, PTSD, Weather, Well being | 9 Comments

Update on Shackleton memorial from

Posted on April 29, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

I just received this update : Dear David, Unfortunately the cairn is not ready for unveiling at the Shackleton memorial service tomorrow- the temporary base still needs work, so we plan to present just the memorial plaque to the RAF … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Weather, Well being | Leave a comment

So lucky to have Ben Rinnes on my doorstep. The Wellington Crash and The Friends of Ben Rinnes.

Posted on April 20, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

Ben Rinnes ; 841 m (2,759 ft) · 512 m (1,680 ft) · Corbett, Marilyn. Elevation: 841 m (2,759 ft) Parent range: Grampian Mountains Ben Rinnes is a cracking mountain on my doorstep. It’s a short drive from home and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Charity, Corbetts, Enviroment, Friends, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Rock Climbing, Views Mountaineering, Well being, Wildlife | 4 Comments

Lochnagar area aircraft crashes – Firefly aircraft crash and Canberra crash on Carn an – t Sagairt Mor.

Posted on February 13, 2022 by heavywhalley.MBE

This old press cutting sent to me by a pal Dave W Earl a few years aginand is a grand tribute to the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team Leader Don Siddons. I would imagine it was printed in the Press … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Mountaineering, Munros, Recomended books and Guides, Well being | Leave a comment

Lockerbie another year on and the pain is still there.

Posted on December 21, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

Today is the Anniversary of the Lockerbie Disaster in 1988. I was the Team Leader of the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team. My first stint as TeamLeader and I had a great young team. We were involved in so many … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Cycle to Syracuse Training, Lockerbie, Media, Mountaineering, People, PTSD, Well being | 6 Comments

The Wellington Crash 10 Dec 1942 Corrour / Alder Estate – Geal Charn. A sad but amazing tale.

Posted on December 11, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

There are few who know of this incident yet it is an incredible event. It takes you back to the dark days of the war 1942 when Britain was struggling. This tragic Crash was on 10 th Dec 1942. Near … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Books, Bothies, Friends, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Recomended books and Guides, Views Mountaineering, Weather, Well being | 2 Comments

Early lessons from the “helicopter Fast party” The USAF F111 that crashed on Skye 7 Dec 1982. 30 min to get your life sorted .

Posted on December 7, 2021 by heavywhalley.MBE

The changes over the years in Mountain Rescue and the introduction of a fast party for deployment by helicopter changed a lot of our protocols. In the RAF Mountain Rescue. Things changed we could be flown all over Scotland to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft incidents, Articles, Enviroment, Mountain rescue, mountain safety, Mountaineering, People, Views Mountaineering, Well being | 6 Comments