Environmental
Impact - Crashed Planes
Loch
Ness
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Environmental
Impact - Crashed Planes
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Loch
Ness
|
 A Wellington in Flight |
On New Year’s Eve 1940, Wellington N2980 was on a training flight, but after suffering an engine failure over the Monadhliath Mountain the captain ordered the crew to bale out. This took longer than expected and the Captain and second pilot were left with no alternative than to try and crash land. Seeing a large patch of water they brought their aircraft down and made a perfect landing on Loch Ness. The pair got out safely before the Wellington slid quietly below the surface of the Loch. One of the crew had been killed when his parachute failed to open but the rest were safe. |
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At the time, no attempt was made to salvage the aircraft and it was not until the wreck was found in almost perfect condition in 1979 that it was decided to try and recover it. Using the latest diving techniques, it was finally recovered from its watery bed in September 1985, and the picture above shows a part of its recovery. The aircraft is now in Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, and is being prepared for future exhibition. It is only the second Wellington to survive to this day. |
 The port wing and central fuselage section |
