In Memory

of 8 crew members on the Halifax bombert who lost their lives on 22nd October 1944. The ridge southward to Swirl How is named Top of Broad Slack, Broad Slack being a ferociously steep grass slope climbing out of Greenburn between the crags. This is the site of a wartime aircrash and you can see the remains of the Royal Canadian Air Force Handley Page Halifax bomber. The undercarriage, together with this wooden cross and memorial cairn is on the top of the ridge with the rest of the wreckage spread down Broad Slack. During a night time navigation exercise in 1944, the RCAF Halifax from RAF Topcliffe became lost in thick cloud. In an attempt to wait out the blanket of grey, they circled in hope the cloud would clear, ultimately becoming hopelessly lost. To try and get a visual fix for the navigator, the pilot dropped the bomber out of the cloud base, with no knowledge of what was below him. Unfortuntely, for both him, the crew and the aircraft, they were greeted by the great rising fells of Swirl How and Great Carrs. With no time to react, the aircraft hit the mountainside killing all on board.

Encountered on our run over the fells today to see friends racing in the Three Shires Fell Race. Great conditions and a fine day in the mountains : )

Look large to read the memorial stone