Lockheed Hudson T9432 on Ben Lui

Hudson Ben Lui

I am researching the Hudson which crashed on Ben Lui on the 15th April 1941.My Uncle Flight Sergeant Doug Green was the pilot of the aircraft who perished with the other three members of the crew. I believe that their remains and other important parts of the aircraft were recovered by 63 MU RAF Carluke headed by Flight Lt MacFarlane on the 16th April 1941.I would be very grateful if anyone has any information which relates to the recovery. I am not sure how to access the ORB that relates to this recovery, do I have to go to RAF Hendon? Any information, help or assistance would be much appreciated.
Chris Eldridge

Hi,Chris i have visited many crash sites over the years and i had a walk to the Hudson crash on Ben Lui in may 08.I have some good video footage and photos of the crash site as it looks today.You can still see the aircrafts reg no and amazingly roundels on the wings even today.There is masses of this aircraft left even both engines in the gully and rear fuesalage.If you are interested in a copy of the cd then let me know and i will forward a copy to you.Regards Tim

Recent photos of the crash site on Alan’s website at:

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotlandt9432.htm

Hi Tim, great to get your message.
I made a pilgrimage to the crash site on the 15th May 2008 with my two brothers to pay our respects to our Uncle and his three crew. We erected a small brass plaque to commerorate them them all close to the fuselage wreckage.
We also tried to visit the site again last September, but the weather that weekend was awful, so we aborted. We plan a further visit in May/June this year.
I have done a lot of research in the last couple of years and uncovered a lot of information, about the mission, the crew and the subsequent recovery of the men.
I would love a copy of the cd you took, I am only too willing to pay for your costs and postage. My addres is:- 20, Barnham Road, Barnham, Nr. Bognor Regis, West Sussex. PO22 OES.
Thanks
Chris

No problem Chris,i will edit you a copy as soon as i can and forward it to you,there are not many aircraft remains from the war still as complete as this one,lets hope it remains so as a testament to all those who sacrificed their lives and that future generations will be able to visit and pay their own respects.Regards Tim

Hi Tom, thanks very much for finding that for me. I am eager to gain as much information as I can about the crash, the recovery and all aspects of mu Uncle’s service history.
My e mail address is [email]Chris56@live.co.uk[/email]
Thanks very much.
Chris

Operational Record Book.

Made up of Form 540 and 541 which are the daily and monthly records of operational and noteworthy items relating to the unit.

Content was set out in the pre-war War Manual but in practice it varies from unit to unit from fully detailed to one liners.

Regards
Ross

ORB…………….???? Anyone

Planemike

233 Sqn Hudson

I can confirm that the NA has the Aldergrove Form 540. This crash is recorded in it. I have the relevant page somewhere in my attic. If I locate it I can send you a copy. PM me with your e-mail address and I will scan it.

Tomdocherty72

Hi Atcham, thankyou very much for the information you have provided me with. The report you quote from 58 OTU was just the sort of thing I was looking for. I shall go to the PRO at Kew and have a look at the ORB’s from both 63 MU and 58 OTU. Would they also have the ORB’s from RAF Aldergrove?
I have a copy of David Earl’s book and have also been in contact with him directly.
I am currently trying to trace a copy of the Police Report which was sent to RAF Grangemouth by the Police constable at Crianlarich. He was first on the scene of the crash accompanied by the farmer at Cononnish Farm.
I will keep you informed of my research.
I express my thanks again to both you and Ant for the information and guidance you have given me todate.
Chris

Hi Ant,thanks for pointing me in the right direction for tracing the ORB’s, and the web site you detail. I really do appreciate your help.
Best Regards
Chris

The relevant ORB for 233 sqn is definately held at Kew- details below:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=3200711

Chris, have you seen the short piece about your uncle’s accident in Dave Earl’s book Hell on High Ground Vol 2? I had forgotten about this till I just checked the book. Some photos of the wreckage 2,800 ft up the mountain and detail about the aircraft’s mission. No entries from ORBs however.

I checked the ORB for No 63 MU back in the 1970s. My notes do not include anything about the Ben Lui Hudson so I believe that it was not mentioned specifically. Not absolutely sure of this, however. It seems that almost nothing of this aircraft was recovered at the time, judging by what was left in the 1970s. It was in a gully and not easily accessible so it may simply have been abandoned. The ORB for No 58 OTU at RAF Grangemouth, the nearest station to the site reads:
“18 April 1941: Report received from police that an aircraft was seen near summit of Ben Lui. It was thought it might be Spitfire R6643 missing since 10 April. A party was sent out. Crashed aircraft, however, was a Hudson of No 233 Squadron, Aldergrove, with a crew of four sergeants all killed. Body of one recovered and brought to Grangemouth. Remaining could not be recovered without salvage assistance.”
24 April: Remaining three sergeants recovered”
I presume that No 63 MU were responsible. The Spitfire remains missing to this day.

Hi Chris,

The ORB’s for the relevant squadron and MU should be held at the National Archive (Public Record Office) at Kew, rather than Hendon.