80th anniversary of World War Two plane crash

Six of the eight crewmen were killed in the crash in 1944

On 19 September 1944 an RAF Liberator bomber plane crashed into the Preseli hills, killing six RAF servicemen and injuring three others.

It was described as one of Wales’ worst wartime aviation accidents.

On the 80th anniversary, members of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group and locals walked to the crash site to remember the crew.

"As the years go on and World War Two diminishes rapidly into history, it’s important that we have things like this here."

The Pembrokeshire Aviation Group formed 40 years ago to remember the incident and organise a plaque.

Founding member John Evans said: “We’re proud that we were able to put a memorial here 40 years ago.

"Walkers can come across this, they can ponder over the names and see that something horrific happened here."

Malcolm Cullen (left) and John Evans are the founding members of the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group

Member Malcolm Cullen said he encouraged walkers to make the trek up to the memorial.

"A disaster happened here but it's in beautiful surroundings and a chance to use your feet and get some fresh air.

"It's said that had the plane been flying a few feet higher the plane would have flown away unscathed."

Nothing has grown on the site of the crash since 1944

On the afternoon of the crash, Warrant Officer Stan Kearey and his crew were off duty after completing a nine hour anti-submarine patrol the previous day.

That changed when the Royal Navy offered the use of one of their submarines for an exercise and the crew were quickly contacted and scrambled.

All except for one - Air Gunner Danny Quinn, who was in town doing his laundry.

He returned to his barracks to find his crew had been called out. The following morning he found out that his crewmates had crashed in the Welsh hills.

Four of the crew are buried at Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.