Scene of devastation on Wimberry Rocks,Dovestones,
Greenfield,Near Oldham in August 1949 as a DC-3 crashes
on the hill in cloud whilst on approach to Ringway airport
Manchester.
Of the 3 crew and 29 passengers on a flight from Belfast
in Northern Ireland, 24 were killed as workers at the
nearby Greenfield paper mill rushed to the scene of the
crash and ferried the injured people down on makeshift
stretchers.
The Dakota left Nutts Corner,Belfast,N.Ireland at 10.50am
on a routine passenger flight to Manchester,Ringway airport
on 19th August 1949,weather conditions forcasted variable
cloud and light winds, with good visability at Ringway,though
there was cloud over the hills on approach, down to around
1,400ft,It would appear from the accident report that the pilot,
whilst on approach to the airport, had underestimated his
position and began his descent a couple of minutes too soon,
for at approximately 12-noon, with its gear down and in a
controlled descent to 1,500ft, the DC-3 Struck the crest of
Wimberry Rocks at a height of around 1,700ft with disaterous
results.
Crew of G-AHCY:
PILOT: CAPTAIN. FRANK W.PINKETON. (36) (K)
CO-PILOT: FIRST OFFICER: GORDON HOLT. (K)
RADIO OP: RADIO OFFICER: RICHARD W.HAIG. (K)
PASSENGERS:
Mr Robert Ashton. (33) (S)
Mrs Ashton. (K)
Mrs Sarah M.Baird. (36) (K)
Mrs Edith Barclay. (K)
Miss Jean Barclay. (K)
Mr Cyril Beenstock. (22) (K)
Miss Dorothy Brimelow. (19) (K)
Mr Clarke. (K)
Mrs Davies. (K)
Mr Horace Evans. (39) (S)
Mrs Ruth Evans. (38) (S)
Mstr Stephen Evans. (5) (S)
Mstr Roger Evans. (22mths) (K)
Miss Bridget A.Farrell. (19) (K)
Mr George S.Gisby. (56) (K)
Miss Ivy Gwendolin Jones. (K)
Mr Hubert Lea. (K)
Miss Kitty McMahon. (41) (S)
Mr H. Bryce Prestwich. (K)
Mrs Prestwich. (K)
Miss Elizabeth Anne Prestwich. (10) (K)
Miss Jane Caroline Prestwich. (7) (K)
Mstr Michael Prestwich. (2) (S)
Mrs E.Schofield. (K)
Mrs Beatrice Siddall. (49) (K)
Mr Arthur F.Vickery. (29) (S)
Mrs Edna Vickery. (23) (K)
Mstr David Vickery. (K)
Mr Christopher Watt. (25) (S)
DC-3 G-AHCY - Peak District
