CEREMONY AT LAKE VYRNWY NORTH WALES

On Saturday 18th August 2001 a Ceremony was held at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel to remember the Crew of  a 27 O.T.U Wellington Mk 111 X3785 which crashed on the shores of Lake Vyrnwy in the early hours of the15th May 1943. The aircraft had taken  off from Lichfield the previous night at 22.30 hrs on a 6 hour X-Country and Navigational Training Exercise - the route was to be Lichfield -Rhyl - Isle of Man - Anglesey - Fishguard - Llangollen - Cannock Chase Bombing Range -Lichfield. 

The Crew

F/O J.W. Robb. Pilot RAFVR

F/O T.A. Ley Navigator Instructor and Captain RAAF

P/O G.H Cone Navigator RAFVR

Sgt G.S Lee Wireless Operator/Air Gunner RAFVR

Sgt A.W. Sayers Bomb Aimer RAFVR

Sgt E.L Clark Air Gunner RAFVR

They were all Pupils with the exception of F/O T.A. Ley who had recently been posted to Lichfield after a tour with 108 Sqdn in Egypt. The flight was uneventful until on the return leg one of the engines failed probably at low level and it was not possible to maintain height or give sufficient time to bale out. The aircraft crashed killing all on board and at the subsequent investigation it was found that the sleeve drive on one engine had failed. The RAFVR Crew members were buried in their home towns and  F/O T.A. Ley RAAF was buried in Oswestry Cemetery.

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