In worsening weather the crew were confident that they were on the approach to the airfield and were losing height as they began to cross the high ground of Birchen Bank Moss. As they dropped gently through the clouds they slammed into the moor, at around 1.45 am. Three men in the front of the bomber were killed instantly (Flying Officer Lane, Sergeant Rouse, and Pilot Officer Brown) the Navigator, Pilot Officer Grisdale, and a Sergeant Miller survived but were suffering from serious injuries. There is not a lot of debris present at the crash site now, but a tile with a graphic of a Wellington bomber on has been fixed to a small wooden cross by relatives of the crew I believe. Leave the area of the crash and remain faithful to the 90 degree bearing, crossing a
number
of shallow cloughs in about 8 minutes you find yourself dropping into a
much deeper clough, with a well worn path running from right to left, and
following the west bank of the clough in a North South direction.Now
take this path in the downstream direction soon passing through a wood,
and then turning sharply right (east) and begin to drop steeply down to
meet the stream. Turn left downstream and in about 4 minutes you join the
river Etherow which you follow downstream for a further 5 minutes to arrive
at the eastern end of the Longdendale Trail, you now have an easy 3 mile
walk back to the visitors Centre. 
Mick Melvin