Divers discover WWII aircraft wreckage

The engine was on the lakeside in 1969 and has probably been pushed in by morons in more recent years. We found a large piece of airframe nearby with dark sea grey paint (correct description?) in excellent condition.

Avenger crash site

In the book Air Crashes In The Lake District, (1997) by Michael J. Hurst, he mentions the aircraft:

Crashed: 16 Jan 1945
Type: Avenger Mk.II, JZ390 of 763 Sqn.
Crew: Lt. BJ Kennedy RCNVR, AG Fell RNVR & P. Royston Mallorie – all killed.

Also from the book:
“Flying from RNAS Inskip on a night training flight the aircraft flew into the steep scree slope at the side of Wastwater. The crew of three were killed and and aircraft broke up scattering the wreckage down the slopes, some of which lies in the water today. A walk along the shore path will lead you to you the large Wright Cyclone radial engine, which is lying at the water’s edge. Other parts of the aircraft can be seen amongst the rocks and gullies of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head. An almost complete tail section was found on the lake bed by the local diving club”.

A picture in the book shows the engine, with propeller boss still attached, lying on the lake shore though there is no mention of the date the photo was taken. This means that the engine has been pushed into the lake since.

Seeing as it must weigh several hundred pounds this cannot have been an easy task. Perhaps it was an attempt by someone to prevent it being taken away and disappearing?

So, if our recent divers look a bit further they should be able to find the tail section which, presumably, must still lie on the bottom of the lake. This would make an interesting find as being located in cold fresh water the paintwork may still be intact and some of the Royal Navy markings too.

Let’s see if we hear any more on the matter.

Anon.

…so how did it end up in the lake then I wonder?

Pete

Engine “block”

The remains of the Wright R-2600 engine could hardly be described as a block.

As pistonrob has pointed out, the site has been known about for a long time and there has never been much left of the engine. It comprised the main cases and cylinder barrels, everything alloy having long-since disappeared.

The main cases and cylinder liners are all steel on the R-2600 so I would describe what was left more of a very rusty lump than a block – and that was before it ended up in the lake.

Anon.

divers

they must be big crates in burma , needing divers, are they or are the washing them so they come out all shiny:diablo:

Not so much a discovery!! As its a well known crash site and it doesn`t take much of a detective to work out where the wreckage is going to be. I looked for the engine about 20 years ago around that area but found nothing. Didnt go diving though!! 😀

We’ve had a lot of rain lately……:)

Business as usual in Cumbria!

Pete

We’ve had a lot of rain lately……:)

I remember when that engine used to sit on the edge of the water.
Does anyone know how it came to be in the lake?

Pete