70 years on – RAF Lossiemouth mountain rescuers remember Lancaster crew who perished in Beinn Eighe crash
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RAF Lossiemouth’s Mountain Rescue Team will mark the 70th anniversary this weekend of a military plane crash on Beinn Eighe that left eight air force crew dead.
The Lancaster TX264, from RAF Kinloss, went down near the summit of Beinn Eighe, in Torridon, during a night sortie in the early hours of March 14, 1951. It was only 30 minutes from landing back at base.
The remote nature of the crash site meant it took three days to locate the wreckage.
RAF Lossiemouth’s Mountain Rescue Team will mark the anniversary this year by conducting training on base.
The team had intended to climb the gully where the aircraft crashed, where the remaining aircraft parts now serve as waypoints for mountaineers. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, they will only deploy for operational purposes.
RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Deputy Team Leader Sgt Ali Beer said: "It’s a shame we can’t climb the gully this year.
"It is an important part of RAF Mountain Rescue history and our training.
"This is when we remember our past and focus on being able to conduct Aircraft Post Crash Management in any terrain or weather. However, we understand the importance of adhering to restrictions.
"The crash site still contains large amounts of wreckage and forms a very atmospheric winter climb known as Fuselage Gully.
"On the climb the mountaineers navigate through parts of the wreck. Further wreckage can be found at the foot of the mountain where a plaque to the crew was laid by the team.
"We look forward to being able to take our newest members on this challenging climb in the future."
As a result of the crash, the RAF revised the training provided to the Mountain Rescue Team.
They now receive annual courses in winter and summer climbing techniques so they can deploy readily to any mountainous region or challenging situation they may face. This was seen over the winter months in Moray as the Mountain Rescue Team protected road users from dangerous drifting snow and freezing conditions.
The men who died in the 1951 crash were pilot F/Lt Harry Smith Reid (29), buried at Groves Cemetery, Aberdeen; co-pilot Sgt Ralph Clucas (23), buried at Kinloss Abbey; F/Lt Robert Strong (27) buried at Bramwood End Cemetery, Birmingham; F/Lt Peter Tennison (26), buried at Kinloss Abbey; F/Sgt James Naismith (28), buried at Kinloss Abbey; Sgt Wilfred Davie Beck (19), buried at Kinloss Abbey; Sgt James Warren Bell (25), buried at Kinloss Abbey; and F/Sgt George Farquhar (29), buried at Buckie Cemetery.
