2022

NS2454 : Fairey Firefly DT977 (Rolls-Royce Griffon engine) - Blaeloch Hill

taken 2 years ago, 3 km from Blairpark, North Ayrshire, Scotland

Fairey Firefly DT977 (Rolls-Royce Griffon engine) - Blaeloch Hill
Fairey Firefly DT977 (Rolls-Royce Griffon engine) - Blaeloch Hill
On the morning of Thursday 26th October, 1944 Fairey Firefly Mk.1 DT977 of 1770 Squadron, FAA RN departed from HMS Wagtail, RNAS Ayr. The aircraft was crewed by Sub-Lieutenant James Henry Fairclough, RNVR and Sub-Lieutenant Anthony John King, RN. They were on a radio navigational training exercise using wireless detection finding. While flying in low cloud their equipment failed and the aircraft struck Blaeloch Hill. It was presumed that the aircraft came down in the Firth of Clyde as the exercise area was around Ailsa Craig. It was almost three weeks after the crash that the remains of the aircraft and the crew were discovered on Blaeloch Hill.

Sub Lieutenant James Henry Fairclough is buried at Ringley St Saviour churchyard near Bolton.

Sub Lieutenant Anthony John King is buried at Chesterton (St Andrew) churchyard in Cambridge.

Fairey Firefly DT977 (aircraft wreckage) on Blaeloch Hill. LinkExternal link

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Raibeart MacAoidh and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Air transport Moorland Primary Subject: Wreckage
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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NS2454, 29 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Raibeart MacAoidh   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Saturday, 9 July, 2022   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 10 July, 2022
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 2405 5497 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:45.3606N 4:48.3255W
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Image Type (about): close look 
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