One of Wales’ worst wartime aviation accidents happened in the Preseli Hills, and will be remembered this month - exactly 80 years on - by founder members of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group.

On the night of September 19, 1944 an RAF Liberator bomber crashed on Carn Bica, which is one of the highest ridges in the Preseli Hills. Six crewmen died and three were injured.

Forty years ago, the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group (PAG) was formed to commemorate this wartime tragedy and the group is still going strong today.

Aviation group founder members Malcolm Cullen and John Evans will be making the latest visit to the crash site on Thursday, September 19.

Malcolm explained: “Over the years we have made countless visits to the site, accompanying relatives and friends of the crew. A plaque marks the place where Liberator EV881, from 547 Squadron based at St Eval in Cornwall, came down just below the summit.”

“There will be no formal service and anyone interested is welcome to join us,” he added.

Meeting place is the roadside by Pantithel Farm (Grid Ref SN127316) near Mynachlogddu, at 11am. Note that the route to the site is a strenuous uphill climb.

A hand coloured photograph of a 547 Squadron Liberator similar to the one which crashed in the Preseli Hills.
A hand coloured photograph of a 547 Squadron Liberator similar to the one which crashed in the Preseli Hills. (Pembrokeshire Aviation Group. Coloured by Ken Edwards.)