Situated about nine miles north of the popular town of Narberth sits the community and village of Mynachlog-Ddu. At around 22.50 on the night of Tuesday 19 September 1944, the peace of this remote community was shattered, when a Consolidated Liberator GR VI, Serial EV881, of 547 Squadron, Royal Air Force crashed into the ground just off the summit of Carn Bica, near Pantithel Farm, killing six of her nine-man crew. The crewmen had all trained together on B-25 Mitchell’s in the Bahamas before returning to Britain, so were a close-knit group.

The Squadron was attached to Coastal Command, equipped with the Vickers Wellington, and took part in anti-shipping duties, then anti-submarine duties, beginning patrols from south-west England in June. At the end of October 1943, it converted to Consolidated Liberators.

Liberator EV881 had taken off from RAF St. Eval, in Cornwall and headed towards Cardigan Bay, in order to carry out an Oasthouse exercise in conjunction with a Royal Navy Submarine and was equipped with the new Leigh Light anti-submarine searchlight. Tragically, as later discovered in a court of enquiry to ascertain the reason behind the crash, it appears that the aircrafts altimeter had been incorrectly set, resulting in the aircraft hitting Carn Bica and bursting into flames. It had been a matter of several feet away from safety.

On 9 September 1984 a memorial was dedicated at the crash site, as a result of the effort by the Pembrokeshire Aviation Group and the Haverfordwest Branch of the Royal Air Force Association. The Reverend Anthony Bailey conducted the service, which was attended by members of the families of the airmen.

Three men survived the crash, although they were all badly burned:

Pilot Officer R.N Shearly

Warrant Officer E.G Moody

Flight Sergeant A.J Campbell

The six dead crewmen were:

John Duncan Boyd, Flight Sergeant, R/167068, Royal Canadian Air Force. John was born in Toronto on 4 April 1917, the son of Samuel Stanley Boyd and Annie Maude Boyd (nee Andoyer). The family later resided at 36, Robert Street, Mimico, Ontario, Canada. John volunteered to serve with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and after completing his training sailed for Britain where he became a Navigator/ Bomber with 547 (R.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. John was 27 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours alongside three of his comrades in Haverfordwest (City Road) Cemetery.

Robert Evans, Flight Sergeant, 1475549, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Robert was born on 1 December 1923, the son of Joseph Henry Evans and Margaret Evans (nee Parry), of 17, Earl Road, Bootle. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training was posted as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner with 547 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Robert was 19 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours alongside three of his comrades in Haverfordwest (City Road) Cemetery.

Albert Henry Humphries, Sergeant, 3050220, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Albert was born in 1925 and was the son of Mrs. Alice Jared, of Llandybie. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training was posted as an Air Gunner to 547 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Albert was 19 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours alongside three of his comrades in Haverfordwest (City Road) Cemetery.

Stanley William Kearey, Warrant Officer, 1313796, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Stanley was born in 1920, the son of William James Kearey and Flora Mary Kearey (nee Simpson), of Farnham, Surrey. He married Louisa Mary Hall, of Bermar, Stephendale Road, Farnham, Surrey, in July 1944. Stanley had enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and by the time of his marriage was already serving as a Pilot with 547 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Stanley was 24 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours in Farnham Civil Cemetery, Surrey.

Raymond Sellors, Flight Sergeant, 1622900, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Raymond was born in 1923, the son of Frederick Sellors and Jane Annie Sellors (nee Johnson), of 28, Askern Road, Bentley, Doncaster. He enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and after completing his training was posted as a Flight Engineer to 547 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Raymond was 21 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours in Bentley-With-Arksey New Cemetery, Doncaster.

Billy William Soroski, Warrant Officer Class I, R/115731, Royal Canadian Air Force. Billy was born on 17 November 1921, the son of Fred Soroski and Mary Soroski (nee Latweniuk), of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force and after completing his training was posted as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner to 547 (R.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. Billy was 22 years old when he was killed during the crash of Liberator EV881 on Carn Bica on 19 September 1944. He was buried with full military honours alongside three of his comrades in Haverfordwest (City Road) Cemetery.