A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
May 10, 2025
Three Barrows – Crash Site of Vickers Wellington B. Mk X LN775
On 1st March 1944, a Vickers Wellington B Mk X flying in cloud struck the the hillside just to the north east of the central barrow at Three Barrows Hill, sadly killing all four crew members. The aircraft was part of the Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit (no. 3) at RAF Hurn in Dorset and was on a transfer flight to Mediterranean Air Command to Rabat, Morocco when it drifted 25 miles off the briefed route.
It wasn’t until three days after the crash when the remains of the aircraft were located by hikers. Today, at the crash site, there is a scar containing a few small pieces of aircraft.
This crash site is probably less well known than those at Hameldown, West Okement Valley and Tigers Marsh, which all have permanent memorials and was chosen by the author for a visit during the week of VE80 (Victory in Europe, 80th Anniversary) as a place for quiet reflection and for paying respects to those lost.
The crash site of the Vickers Wellington can be made out from aerial photographyThe crash site is within site of the central barrow of Three Barrows, but may not be visited much as the main track in the area follows a north / south path across the hill following a reaveThe Vickers Wellington was a twin-engined long-range medium bomber, the RAF’s principal night bomber in the early years of the war, superseded later by the heavier Avro Lancaster. The Mk X (10) version of the aircraft was in service for the ‘No. 3 OADU’ (Overseas Aircraft Dispatch Unit) based at RAF Hurn from 15th January 1943. By the spring of 1944, RAF Hurn was an extremely busy station, dealing with all sorts of activity as part of the build up before D-Day. The arrangements for the dispatch of various aircraft, particularly to the Mediterranean Allied Air Force based in North Africa, continued to be a vital part of their operations.The crash site looking south east towards Brent HillThe crash site looking north in the direction of PrincetownThe crash site and debris 81 years onThe ‘No. 3 OADU’ was finally disbanded on 17th May 1945 when it was located at RAF Talbenny, Nr Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. The Vickers Wellington B Mk X (Type 440) was the most widely produced variant, of which 3,803 were built and was the basis for a number of Coastal Command versions. They were built at Broughton in Flintshire and Blackpool.Close up of some of the remaining debrisNarrow piece of pipework amongst the debrisA temporary memorial to those who sadly lost their lives. The author and friends held a two minute silence here to pay respectsIn memory of : P/O Frederick Cooke F/SGT William Jack F/SGT Alfred Beeston SGT John Yeates RIPThe largest of the Three Barrows is at the centre of the three and has a spread diameter of 40 metres. It stands 2.5 metres high.The central barrow (cairn) is the largest on Dartmoor and is located at 464m above sea level. The hill has also been known as Three Barrows Hill, Three Barrow-tor, Threeburrow Tor, Three Burrows, Threberis, Tre Burroughs, Triborough, Tryberie Boroughs (ref: Tor of Dartmoor database)Triangulation Pillar near the central barrow – OSGB36 Station No. PP209The ‘flush bracket’ number is OS BM S1741. It is located at 461.162 metre above sea level and was constructed here in June 1937. It was maintained in March 1975 and further levelled in June 1975 (Ref: OS Trig database)Top of trig looking south westThe south-eastern barrow (cairn) at Three Barrows is 22 metres in diameter and is 1.6 metres high. It has been badly mutilated by the addition of later pits and shelters.The southern barrow lies next to a track which leads to Red Lake tramwayThe northern barrow (cairn) at Three Barrows comprises an exposed stony mound with an elliptical footprint 24 metres by 19.5 metres. The view is looking west towards Yealm countryThe northern barrow is 1.4 metres high and like the other two greatly mutilated over the years. Of note, adding to its destruction was the ‘investigation’ carried out in 1872 by Spence Bate who commented on his excavation; “This was done in company with Capt. Oliver with the assistance of several men belonging to his brigade of the Royal Artillery. We pursued our researches for three days, removing at least half the cairn, and excavated into the soil below, but without being rewarded for our labour”To the west of the northern barrow (cairn) is a large area of strewn rocks which are believed to have been Stone Extraction PitsView looking north west across the Stone Extraction PitsThe shallow pits in the area are thought to represent surface quarrying for stone and possibility prehistoric origins.Piles CopseS curve in Red Lake tramwayExamples of fenceless grazing on west side of the River Erme. Fenceless grazing is being trialled to remove areas of Molinar Grass. Cattle have collars with GPS trackers. An area is defined and as the cattle reach the extremities of the defined area receive a small electric shock and move back from the border of the area. This article provides more information: https://adriancolston.wordpress.com/tag/nofence/Hillsons House
