Attached to the south side of a wall beside the footpath and track below the crash site.

A rectangular steel plaque headed by an engraved image of a Flying Fortress bearing the Triangle J as its tail-mark. Beneath is the engraved inscription of the commemoration message in English followed by the names of the 20 airmen who were killed in the crash.

Following the end of the conflict in Europe, US Forces began to return home, some as their period of service came to an end and others in preparation for the expected attack on Japan. Most returned by sea but some USAAF personnel returned by air. This aircraft was one of many that were being flown back to the USA with those additional passengers. It was being flown from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to RAF Valley on Anglesey before the final leg back to the USA, onboard was a crew of ten with another ten passengers. As with a number of other flights engaged in this operation it never left the British Isles.

While approaching Valley in low visibility, the crew requested a course to steer and this was transmitted to them by Valley, however, the aircraft flew on the reciprocal course which took it inland towards Dolgellau. After a short while, the crew realized the error and began a turn to starboard to take them back out to sea. Before this turn was completed it struck the high ground close to the summit of Craig Cwm Llwyd on the southern side of the Mawddach Estuary, it traveled approximately 300 feet along the crags before its last impact where the wreck broke up and was destroyed by fire.

All men aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash.

The crew aboard 44-8639:

Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk

Source of photo: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register

IN MEMORY OF THE TWENTY AIRMEN

OF THE 351st BOMBARDMENT GROUP USAAF

KILLED IN THE CRASH OF A B-17G FLYING FORTRESS

ON THIS MOUNTAIN 8th JUNE 1945