Liberator Bomber Crashed on Hill of Wirren
A further tribute to the aircrew can be found via this link
Consolidated Liberator GRV1, number KG857, of 547 Squadron, Coastal Command, RAF. Leuchars, returning to base after an anti-submarine patrol over the North Sea piloted by Flt.Lt. Harold Ellis and his crew of nine, made landfall too far north striking the Hill of Wirren, disintegrating, and killing seven of the crew. Two of the crew suffered only slight injuries and helped the severely injured pilot out of the wreck. He was taken to Stracathro Hospital, where he made a good recovery.
The photograph below shows the crew of the Liberator Bomber which crashed on the Hill of Wirren (2,240 feet), 6 miles north of Brechin on October 17th 1944. This photograph was taken only eleven short hours before the tragic event. On the back of the picture is a very personal message from F/Lt. Ellis (second from right at the rear) to a Glen Lethnot farmer who took part in the long trek up the north face of the Wirren to attempt to rescue survivors. The last words spoken over the plane's intercom were by the bomb-aimer who asked "Is that a wall up ahead skipper?". F/Lt. Ellis visited Edzell annually for many years and made a pilgrimage up to the spot where his comrades died.
