Environmental Impact - Crashed Planes
Helmsdale


Photograph Copyright David W Earl
Dave's Wrecks
RAF Coastal Command Liberator BZ724 of 59 Squadron at Ballykelly,Northern Ireland, had been operating in the North Atlantic on an anti-submarine mission on the night of 17th/18th August 1944, when due to bad weather, and nearing the end of its lengthy patrol, it was diverted to RAF Tain in NE Scotland.

It would appear that after making a descent through cloud and very short on fuel, the Liberator struck the moor above Helmsdale and disintegrated.

Most of the crew of 10 had died in the crash, however a couple had survived, though one was so badly injured that he was to die before help could reach him.

The sole survivor of the crash was in fact the pilot, and he was still strapped in his seat, a little way from the wreck when two farmers Alex & Jock Cuthbert reached him and carried him off the hill.

Members of 59 squadron with BZ724
shortly before the crash above Helmsdale.
P/O John Lloyd Pictured here in early 1944 whilst flying with 59 Squadron as a 2nd Pilot. P/O Lloyd had flown a good number of missions with Coastal Command, and soon gained a commission.