Pen yr Ole Wen Mk.I Memorial
2.6 miles away
Gwynedd
Carneddau (Black Ladders) Wellington Memorial
Carneddau (Black Ladders), Snowdonia
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
Type
Protected war grave with wreckage; crash site cairn
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationApproximate Location
Carneddau (Black Ladders), Snowdonia, Gwynedd
what3words: ///additives.nudge.stoppage
What Happened
Flying a training exercise from RAF Lichfield, the crew of Wellington Mk.IC DV800 were undertaking a navigational flight over Wales when conditions deteriorated. The pilot, Sergeant Longbottom, was Australian — one of many Commonwealth aircrew training with 27 OTU at the time. All five crew members were killed, including Sergeant Traylen, Sergeant Bowen, and Sergeant Wilson. There were no survivors.
Community Connection
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Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
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Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Wellington Mk.IC
Serial Number
DV800
Squadron
27 OTU
Station
RAF Lichfield
Date of Loss
1942-07-19
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Navigation error in cloud; aircraft flew up valley from Bethesda into the mountainside at ~2,500 ft
Crew (4 members)
About the Crew
Sgt Eric Harvey LongbottomPilot
From Western Australia
Killed on impact. Buried at Caernarfon Cemetery alongside fellow Australian Bannister.
Sgt Lionel Denis TraylenObserver
Killed on impact at Black Ladders.
Sgt Richard Ivor BowenObserver
Killed on impact at Black Ladders.
Sgt Samuel James WilsonWireless Operator/Air Gunner
Killed on impact. Last radio contact at 12:06.
Further Reading
Peak District Air Accident ResearchRetrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed crash site analysis. Aircraft strayed 10 miles off course.
What you'll find: Explore detailed Wellington aircraft crash analysis at Carneddau's Black Ladders memorial.
Aircraft strayed 10 miles off courseCloud base at 2,000 feetCrash site not found for 10 days
Aircrash Sites UKRetrieved 2026-03-23
Documents wreckage still present. Protected war grave status.
What you'll find: Explore Wellington Memorial's preserved wreckage and protected war graves at Carneddau (Black Ladders).
Wreckage still presentProtected war grave status
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Peak District Air Accident Research (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aircrash Sites UK (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-23
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