Avro Anson LT778, Walney Island
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Anson LT778
Afternoon of 31 May 1943.
The crew of Avro Anson LT778 (10 Air Gunnery School at RAF Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness) had completed a target practice firing on a drogue target towed by Martinet HP303 and were preparing to land when the pilot of the Martinet overtook the Anson without sufficient clearance to starboard. The Martinet struck the Anson damaging both aircraft.
The Belgian pilot of the Martinet, Pilot Officer J.E.J. Wegria, managed to land safely and later commented that he believed the Anson had already commenced its landing when the accident happened.
However Anson LT778 crashed on the beach just short of the runway killing all on board. It appears the pilot, Sergeant Anderton, was trying to land the damaged Anson.
CREW
Sergeant Charles S Anderton, pilot
Flying Officer Edwin Creed, air gunner instructor
Leading Aircraftman Fred Wilson, wireless operator / air gunner under tuition
Leading Aircraftman James Lenaghan, wireless operator / air gunner under tuition
Leading Aircraftman Harry Hudson, wireless operator / air gunner under tuition
Blame was attached to both pilots for failing to keep lookout, the Air Officer Commanding noting that one of the crew should have been in the astrodome of the Anson, keeping watch until the target tug and tow lines were clear.
There is very little information available about this crash and it is not recorded in Michael Hurst’s ‘Air Crashes in the Lake District.’ Internet message board debates also appear to confuse this crash with another mid-air collision involving an Anson which occurred the same day up the coast at Maryport.
All the research has been undertaken by Mark Haywood, grandson of one of the crew, LAC James Lenaghan. We met at Walney beach, he is in the photo above. Mark has copies of the Accident & Movement cards and a copy of the Operations Record book and photos from the Air Gunnery School.
He has also visited and photographed the graves of the crew of LT778 and is trying to contact any family members of the crew. In this, he has already met with the sister of LAC Harry Hudson. If any relatives of the crew would like to get in touch with Mark, please email me (see contact page).
Mark may also have found the crash site; the photos on the beach were taken close to the spot where Mark has found some bullets and cases and fragments of other debris on a previous visit, photographed below on his wartime era map which naturally does not show the location of airfields. Whether these are from LT778 or not, I cannot be certain (not without seeing some other debris) but the bullet cases are dated 1942 and 1943. The precise spot will still need to be verified however, as the tide was coming in fast as I took these photos. NB; Mark has since been in contact with two eye-witnesses to the crash, both of whom say the actual crash site was a hundred yards south of this spot.
Below; Photos of LAC Lenaghan and his class of wireless operators / air gunners
Squad One LAC Wilson 1st (upper) row on the left, LAC Hudson 3rd row, left, LAC Lenaghan 5th row, right
Below; A Hawker Henley towing a drogue target
Below; Tugs still take-off from Walney but these days towing gliders
Below; An Avro Anson, this one is LT112
Below; Mark’s photo of the beach and Walney airfield taken from a glider
Below; 2 wartime era signs at Walney, photos courtesy of Mark
Below; Mark’s photo of the poppy cross near the crash site later in the day as the tide was going out
Below; Photos of the graves of the crew of LT778 by Mark Haywood
Thanks ian for recording the crash of lt778 on your site.really enjoyed meeting up with you at walney , keep up the good work.mark
Hi Mark sorry for late reply, been away from home and struggling to get connection. Really pleased you like the page. Yeah was very good doing this, enjoyed it and it’s great to have the story recorded.
Hi
I have LAC Fred Wilson’s Boxed war medal and condolence slip in my collection.
I met and spoke with his sister when I added the medal to my collection. She told me the family were told that the Anson was shot down by the Luftwaffe but didn’t really believe that. She was happy I had the medal etc and believed it was sold when his wife died in 1997.
Hi Alistair..
Thanks for your comment ..would love to have a photo of the medal and the letter of condolence if possible.thanx mark..p.s. I’m going to walney island today ..
Hi Alistair..
I’ve been to Freds grave many times in Walton le dale..was hoping to find relatives ..could you help..thanks mark
Hi my name is Stephanie Lawton, I work as an unpaid volunteer Exhibition Officer at the Solway Aviation Museum, Carlisle, Cumbria (Registered Charity)
I am in the process of putting together a display for next year on the airfield of Cumbria during the Second World War. I came across your site with the images etc I would like to ask if you would grant me permission to use them?
P.S where were the crew buried?
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie, feel free to use my photos with a credit to aircrashsites. You would need to ask Mark about using his. He may also know about the burial sites. Mark might see your comment, but if not I will drop him a line in a few days.
Ian
Hi Ian thank you very much for giving me permission to use the images
Hi Stephanie
Please feel free to use of my photos you might need ..if I can help with anything please get in touch..Muckstacker@aol.com…thanks mark
Hi Mark Do you have anymore images of aircraft and airfields in Cumbria during WWII that I could use.
I often visit the grave of Fred Wilson to pay my respects to that generation. I live 2 minutes away from it.
Thank you for this site. It’s nice to know what happened to Fred.
Hi Henry..
I have also been to the grave of Fred many times with poppy and left messages for any family to get in touch.ive noticed the grave always looks well tended..
If u noticed Fred Wilson is in the Photo..
Squad 1 top left..with James and Harry..
Thanx for your reply..
Mark
You have posted the headstone for John Thomas & Mary Anderton, parents of Sgt Charles Stanley Anderton. Can you tell me the cemetry this headstone is located in? I am working on Sgt Charles Stanley Anderton’s memorial page on the Find-A-Grave website and want to ensure I have associated the correct information for his parents.
Thank you.
Gregory Greer
Hi Gregory, it was Mark who provided these photos, hopefully he will be able to advise.
Ian
Hi Greg..
Sorry only just seen this ..headstone is in the Bradford Bowling Cemetery..hope ghis helps..thanx Mark
I remember reading about a ‘Miles Magister’ that crashed at Well House at Foxfield, Broughton in Furness some time in the early 1940s when Cark, Walney and Haverigg airfields were operational. I cannot remember where the reference came from and I have searched all my aircraft books without success. The web doesn’t come up with anything either. Does anyone know of an entry somewhere that details this incident?
Hi Alex, happy new year.
I have looked at ‘Air Crashes in the Lake District’ by M J Hurst, and at a couple of lists but nothing matches the description, I’m afraid. You could post a query on the RAF Commands Forum. Someone on there may be able to help?
Ian
I visited Earnse Bay and thought deeply about these service men and the tragedy. The memorium on the Sea Defences looking out across the beach was very poignant. I have a photograph of the Memorium plaque, if you would like it.
Hi Evelyn, yes please, if you’d like to send me the photo, my email address is on the contact page. I’d upload it here and add a credit to you.
Thank you,
Ian
Ian Hi I came across your interesting article doing some overdue extra research on my grandfather John Thomas Atherton who was a Leading Aircraftman on Walney Island in WW2. As a child I recall a photo which I now have of him in uniform that was always on his sideboard but he never talked about it at all. However, before my father died he told me my granddad had a dreadful memory of his time due to having to deal with the bodies of some airmen at Walney Island. From your article I think this clears up what he was referring to. May I use your information and possibly the photos of the signs which I imagine my granddad saw as a reminder every day. I have done a book about my family from a military aspect so this will add some clarity to the part about my granddad and his brother who also started in the RAF before transferring to the navy to be killed on the Salerno landings sadly. Thank you Neal Atherton
Hi Neal,
Thank you for your comment. I’m pleased you found the story of interest.
The photos were mostly provided by Mark Haywood and he did the research too.
I have asked Mark and he is happy for you to use them as you wish. Are they for inclusion in a book? If so, a credit to Mark Haywood would be appreciated.
Best wishes with your research.
Ian
Ian Thank you for that, it is appreciated. My book I published four years ago and I am revising it and adding to it in view of the research since then. It is easy enough to reload an update onto Amazon/Kindle. I will credit yourself and please thank Mark Haywood for allowing me to use the photos which I will credit. Initially I will do an article on my website. Although I cannot definitively put my granddad with this incident it does confirm my fathers story and will add to the narrative of his time at Walney. Thanks again Neal