Lancaster NE132
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Lancaster NE132 near Harlech.
6 February 1945. Lancaster NE132 was on a cross country night navigation exercise when the aircraft broke up in mid-air and crashed to the ground killing all 7 crewmen.
The accident investigation report concluded the aircraft had entered a storm cloud and probably in trying to pull out of a dive, the stresses on the airframe caused it to break up. Such was the force of impact that the bodies of two crew members (F/O Evans and Sgt Gash) were never found. Debris from the crash was found up to 3 miles from the main impact site which is half way up the mountain of Rhinog Fawr, 4 miles south east of Harlech.
The grid reference is SH 63740 28880.
In the lead photo, the debris is strewn among the line of rocks running left to right. Much of it is shattered and twisted showing the force of the impact. A scout about to the south and east of the main wreck site will reveal more debris.
CREW
F/O David Henry Robert Evans, RAAF, Pilot
F/O Maxwell Walter Moon, RAAF, Navigator
Sgt. Charles William Souden, RAF, Bomb Aimer
Sgt. George Edward William Hodge Flight, RAF, Engineer
Sgt. Arthur David Gash, RAF, Air Gunner
Sgt. Harold Nielsen Air, RAF, Air Gunner
Sgt. Alfred Ernest Oliff, RAF, Air Gunner/Wireless Op
Below; Bullet found at the site, twisted by the impact.
Below; Some of the crew of NE132.
Below; Propeller hub with remains of prop blade still visible.
Please note following a typing error in R.A.F. documentation the
name of Alfred Ernest Oliff was incorrectly put as Cliff.
He was my mothers younger brother, could you please correct your entry
Regards Nick Carter.
ok, thanks Nick.
My uncle Arthur Gash is in the middle of the picture my family only discovered a few years ago websites with a memorial to the crew.
Thanks Martin
Arthur Gash was my cousin and my mothers nephew, and, brother to Sheila. He was due to spend his next leave with us and I can remember the tears and sadness when we heard the news. I was nine years old at the time.
David Evans was the elder brother of my great aunt Jocelyn (herself in the WAAAF at the time). Family members scattered her ashes at the crash site earlier this year. Thanks for collecting this info.
Lovely to read of your great aunt Jocelyn’s ashes being scattered at the crash site, thank you for adding this detail Chris.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Ian
im Daniel Gash half brother to Arthur he was big lost especially my father so.young 24yrs to die this way.RIP.brother till we meet again
im Daniel Gash half Brother to Arther Gash I was 9yrs old when we recieve the news of his death.it was shocking my Father never got over it RIP dear Brother till we meet again
Thank you for your visit to this website and for commenting Daniel.
Best wishes,
Ian
This entry in the RAF Llanbedr MRT diary applies to this accident
Date : 1st July 1945
Incident: Lancaster crash site from Feb 1945
Location: Cwm Nantcol MR 095507
Narrative:
“The main purpose of the exercise was to survey an area where a Lancaster crashed in Feb 1945. There were apparently 7 people on board but only 5 bodies were recovered at the time. The map reference of the crash was given as 098-510 of 1” sheet 49.
1400 hrs MRS crew with the duty RAF Regiment Squad left SSQ and set up advance base at Nantcol Farm in Cwm Nantcol. Four search parties were employed, and an organised sweep was made covering an area of ¾ mile square in an attempt to find the old crash. Party one reported by radio that small pieces of aircraft had been located at a point near Foel Dolu, map ref 095-507. All parties were summoned to this spot and a search of the area was made. The small pieces of a/c had been buried by the salvage personnel from the Maintenance Unit. Small fragments of human bones were found and it is therefore surmised that the missing victims must have been blown to pieces by the explosion.
1830 hrs MRS crew returned to SSQ.
Thanks Brian.