Vickers Wellington R1465
0.5 miles away
Powys
Waun Rydd Wellington Memorial
Waun Rydd, Brecon Beacons, Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)
Partial Record
The Memorial
Type
Memorial cairn at crash site on mountain ridge
Inscription
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LocationVerified Location
Waun Rydd, Brecon Beacons, Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Powys
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What Happened
Wellington R1465 was on an Operational Training Unit flight when it came down on Waun Rydd in the Brecon Beacons in 1942. OTU crews were still developing the skills needed for frontline operations, making every training sortie a calculated risk far from combat. The aircraft — a Wellington, though some source details vary — did not survive the encounter with this high moorland terrain. All crew members were killed. The wreckage remains on the hillside at Waun Rydd, a quiet marker to those lost before they ever reached an operational squadron.
*Note: Pilot name, individual crew names, cause of crash, and personal crew details are not present in the available source data and have been omitted rather than assumed.*
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Remembrance Weekend(Not specified)
The text mentions that the author discovered the crash site during Remembrance weekend, implying a commemorative event.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Aircraft Type
Wellington (details vary by source)
Squadron
OTU
Date of Loss
WW2
Crew
Crew killed
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Brecon Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Further Reading
Wandering Welsh GirlRetrieved 2026-03-23
Walking guide and historical account of the Wellington Bomber R1465 crash site at Waun Rydd. The aircraft took off from the Operational Training Unit at Wellesbourne Mountford near Stratford-upon-Avon on 6 July 1942 for a cross-country training exercise.
What you'll find: Explore Wellington Bomber R1465 crash site history and guided walk at Waun Rydd.
Aircraft serial R1465. Pilot descended from the advised 10,000 ft in heavy cloud to try to fix position, striking the summit of Waun Rydd in a flat high-speed crash. All five crew were Canadian and are buried in Hereford.
Institute of Welsh AffairsRetrieved 2026-03-23
Article examining the Wellington crash site at Cwar y Gigfran (Raven's Quarry) on Waun Rydd, noting the extensive wreckage that remains visible at the site more than 80 years after the crash.
What you'll find: Explore the Wellington crash site at Raven's Quarry in Waun Rydd and its historical significance.
Two distinct piles of wreckage still remain at the site. The crash location is beneath Cwar y Gigfran ridge. A dedicated memorial cairn is often adorned with poppies by walkers.
Ystradgynlais Aircraft Crash SitesRetrieved 2026-03-23
Local history page documenting Wellington R1465 and the circumstances of its crash on Waun Rydd on 6 July 1942. Provides details of the five Canadian crew members and their training exercise from Wellesbourne Mountford OTU.
What you'll find: Explore local history: Discover the story behind Wellington R1465's tragic crash at Waun Rydd in 1942.
Serial confirmed as R1465. All five crew were Canadians from the RCAF. The OTU at Wellesbourne Mountford trained crews for Bomber Command operations.
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Wandering Welsh Girl (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Institute of Welsh Affairs (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Ystradgynlais Aircraft Crash Sites (retrieved 2026-03-23)
wanderingwelshgirl.com (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21
Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.
Suggest a correction or additionCan You Help Complete This Record?
This record for Waun Rydd Wellington Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.
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