A sombre moment

For a long time now I've meant to visit Hare Hill having heard this was the site of plane wreckage from the Second World War. Not for any macabre reason, just an interest in things to be found on our hills. My back is still sore but gentle exercise has been recommended and walks in the Pentland Hills don't come much more gentle than this, it being only 45 minutes on foot from the car park.. It is another cracking day here and it is just brilliant to see so many folk out on foot and bike enjoying the fresh air. Hare Hill is interesting with an old quarry at the summit as well.

The crash site itself is marked by a simple wooden post and there is still plenty of small pieces of wreckage lying around. The plane - a Junkers JU 88A - crashed here on the 25th March 1943 with the loss of all four crew, who varied in age from 22 to 31 years. It's mission was to destroy Leith Docks which lie about seven miles from this site, but it never dropped its bombs and on the return flight at 00:45 it crashed into this gentle hillside.

The photos are of the pilot: Lieutenant Fritz Foerster (73176/143) who was born on the 14th June 1912 and the other photo is of his family. These photos - which have clearly been placed here by some well wisher - were found lying among the wreckage and brought a sad personal touch to what at first appeared to be just wreckage lying on a remote hillside.