Bolsterstone

...he was astonished to find nothing but undisturbed moorland with absolutely no signs that the 'plane ever existed.

This quiet moorland area is haunted by the spectre of a wartime tragedy. In March 1997 phonecalls from several concerned members of the public to the emergency services sparked a huge search and rescue operation involving over 100 police officers with tracking dogs, 2 helicopters and 7 mountain rescue teams. The search had been initiated after witnesses sighted a low-flying aircraft which was obviously in difficulties. Shortly afterwards a blinding flash followed by billowing smoke was observed coming from the direction of the Derwent reservoir a few C-47 Dakota - the same type of 'plane as seen over Bolsterstone miles away. Despite an all-night search over a 50 mile area no wreckage or signs of a crash were found. Following confirmation from aviation authorities that no aeroplanes had been reported missing the search was called off.

That the search attempts were unsuccessful was of little surprise to many local people; including members of the local police who were openly discussing the area's well-known 'ghost plane'. Two years previously a local man, Mr Tony Ingle had witnessed a very similar appearance by the spectral aeroplane. Whilst walking his dog on the moors he saw a large, twin-engined warplane struggling for height pass over his head. Watching the 'plane move away from him he observed it crashing into a field just out of his sight. Running to see if he could help any survivours of the crash he was astonished to find nothing but undisturbed moorland with absolutely no signs that the 'plane ever existed.

Mr Ingle later said: "The strange thing about my experience was that although I could see the propellers going round there was just an eerie silence. My dog still refuses to go up that lane to this day".

The aeroplane is described as being identical to a US Air Force Dakota transport 'plane which crashed in the area in May 1945, killing all seven crewmen.