Arenig Fawr

A long trek up to the lake, over Y Castell and on to the summits of Arenig Fawr (854m) , Carreg y Diocyn and Craig y Bychau. I didn't see any other people all day despite the stunning weather and scenery. My objective was to visit the summit cairn which contains a memorial to the eight American aircrew who died when their B-17 Flying Fortress crashed into Arenig Fawr on a night time training flight on 4th August 1943.

I could not believe it when I saw that the memorial stone has been damaged and the remembrance crosses have been burnt. The home town names of the first three men is now missing. The inscription reads (or should read):

1st LT James Pratt, Boise, Idaho
2nd LT Allan Boner, Tinley Park, Illinois
2nd LT William Bowling, Covington, Kentucky
T/SGT Fred Royar, Queens Village, New York
S/SGT Walter Johnston, Fayette, Ohio
SGT Walter Robinson, Sacramento, California
SGT Phillip Simonte, Highland Park, Michigan
PFC Alfred van Dyke, Brockville, Pennsylvannia

I hope that it will be repaired. A photograph of the crew two weeks before the crash is here:
http://www.303rdbg.com/427pratt.html