Anson MG804
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Anson MG804
Avro Anson MG804 crashed on Foel-fras in north Wales on 12 July 1944 during a night navigation exercise killing one of the crew.
CREW
Flight Sergeant Biffen (pilot, killed)
Flight Sergeant Standring (wireless operator, killed though this record may be incorrect, see below)
Pilot Officer Sibthorpe (navigator, survived)
Sergeant Dalton (bomb aimer, survived)
Sergeant Lorrimer (wireless operator under tuition, survived)
Edit 31 October 2020 – Please see comment below by Andrew Biffen, grandson of Flight Sergeant Biffen.
The hill in the far distance in the photo above is Carnedd Dafydd
Grid ref from Peakwreckhunters SH 69617 67586
Debris remaining at the crash site. I could not see the 11 foot long section of wing seen in other photos. It could be some distance from the crash site or it could have been stolen.
Currently researching the crash in which my Grandfather Flight Sergeant William Gordon Harold Biffen died. Until now my believed the Anson crashed in Cumbria,I am grateful to you for your photographs and correct position of the site.Unfortunately,I have to correct you on the casualty, my Grand father was the only member of the crew to be killed, you have him as the pilot who survived.
Thanks Andrew, I have amended the detail you provide regarding your grandfather. You mention he was the only crew member to be killed in this crash, so I wonder if it is that he and the wireless op have been mixed up, or whether both were killed? I shall have a look around, see if I can find any further reference.
Ian
Good afternoon.
I apologise for the length in time replying.
I wanted to let you know, my information comes via my father’s Stepfather, Jack”Tiger”Lyon, who until his passing was the last surviving member of Stalag Luft 3. We were never close, my father hasn’t spoken to him for years, my Grandmother passed a couple of years before him, he had no family of his own, so we kept in contact through sympathy really.I sorted his funeral and the RAFA assistance.It wasn’t until very recently, I saw a photo of my blood Grandfather and received his flight log book.
I was told by my Grandmother, there were four crew and my Grandfather(wireless operator and gunner)was the only fatality.
I have become quite frustrated as details are not easily found, crash records, grave etc.
Everyone I speak to seems more interested in Jack, who sat in a POW camp for about four years, while my Grandfather spent the war flying, taking his life in his hands, only to be killed in an accident.
I would be grateful if someone could provide me with some details. I would like to visit the grave and pay my respects.
Thank you Andrew. Yes, I imagine it is frustrating. I have just been googling around again, but nothing is coming up, no idea where his grave is. I wonder if the RAF Museum at Hendon would have any information, though you may have tried there already?
Ian