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Against All Odds: One Man's Escape From a Scottish Mountain

Scotland's Mountains

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In December 1942, a Vickers Wellington bomber disappeared over the Scottish Highlands during a navigation training flight.

The aircraft eventually crashed into the slopes of Geal Chàrn, near Ben Alder, killing five of the six men on board.

But one man survived.

Sergeant Philip Edward Underwood, the rear gunner, was badly injured but somehow made his way out of the mountains. He spent the night at the crash site before beginning his descent the following day, eventually reaching the Corrour estate.

I head to this area and try my best to retell the story of survival. I also discuss how remote these mountains are and also make a bit of an error early on.

In memory of those who didn't survive.

F/O James William Heck (25), Pilot, RAAF.
Sgt Maurice Hutt (21), Obs. / Bomb Aimer, RAFVR.
Sgt William Ernest Riley (22), Navigator, RAF.
Sgt Joseph Towers (25), Navigator, RAFVR.
Sgt James Hemmings, W/Op / Air Gnr., RAFVR.

Please note if yoiu visit these site they are protected under various laws as discussed later in the video. Please remain respectful in these areas.

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Link to Visit where I traverse these mountains and stay on a sandy beach : Bad Weather Forces Plan B! | 3 Days Wild C...

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All music from the YouTube Library apex by Aakash Gandi

A special thanks to Gavin McCloy for use of his composition :

"Scotlands Mountains"

Please click here for this music - https://linktr.ee/gavinmccloypiano

NB -The content within is strictly only reports from my trips out detailing the days we have had. They are not intended as guides or routes to be used by others - rather memories of my trips. Not all videos are shot recently and some are form months or even year ago. Take care and be responsible for your activities. Be safe and prepared and have a great time in the Great Outdoors :) walked in Aug 22nd 26
00:00 Introduction to survival story
05:15 start of survival story
20:28 are these remote mountains or not?
27:11 mistake early on
27:39 overview of day and hike

20 Comments

@kristin8932 1 day ago

Watched this with tears in my eyes. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you decided to talk about Philip Underwood and his story. To think of his fear, his sadness at losing his friends, being injured, shocked at not knowing where he is, freezing, is sobering. Of course the views were stunning and I forgot to do a time stamp on one area where patches of light were all over the mountains. Awe-struck. Thank you Murray for not only showing us the beauty of the mountains, but honoring someone's life and that of the crew. This video was particularly special ❤

@DSTWizz 1 day ago

Murray, that was a fascinating and moving story, and yes, a little different from what you usually do. What is not different though, is your absolutely amazing gift for videography. I keep having to pinch myself when I see you cycling, walking , taking pictures, doing your commentary....and you're doing it ON YOUR OWN! You don't have a camera crew with you, a sound engineer, a production manager, a script editor, because you, solo, are all of those things! I mean, you've got some great kit, but my goodness you sure know how to use it. To viewers like me you make it look so effortless, but I can barely imagine how long it must take to plan and then edit your work. And the result is an outstanding piece of work like this, and a worthy tribute to the survivor and to the poor guys who lost their lives on that mountain. Thanks so much, once again!

@ellenlepore3083 1 day ago

Such a tragic and heartbreaking incident…an unimaginable ordeal. Thank you so much for sharing the story with us.

@joanhuggett5164 1 day ago

Affected me, this did. A reminder to be grateful and not take anything for granted; everything we have has come at such high cost.
Watched this evening just now with my son who spent 5 years in the RAAF; I'm so thankful to have him safe home.
Thank you for this one Murray. You are a thoughtful wonderful man. Love you.

@garrypaton2763 15 hours ago

Many thanks for making this - a fascinating documentary and a sad story.

@philipwalker103 23 hours ago

Another of your vids that could easily be produced to feature on one of the main terrestrial chanells. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

@footprintsacrossscotland1417 21 hours ago

Interesting video Murray, incredible story. As you say amazing just how many plane wrecks there are in the Scottish highlands. You’re not alone making mistakes at the start of a walk, done it a few times myself usually after checking the route the night before and believing I knew the way so failed to recheck in the morning. Actually made the very same mistake you did on this walk, missed the left turn and probably got to the same point as you did before realising ! Cheers Paul

@Maya.K.01 1 day ago

Such a tragic story, thank goodness for new technologies today. Scotland’s mountains are so beautiful, but can be dangerous to anyone without the experience and skills to navigate themselves to safety. Thank you for sharing Murray and ATB to you and your family.🙏☺

@Moffatmountainadventures 23 hours ago

Incredible story to tell. So many emotions he must have had. Brilliant choice of topic to focus on

@brycehermon5939 1 day ago

There is no doubt that this is an incredible story of survival but with such a tragic and sobering twist. Obviously, this aircraft crash is one of many similar tragedies.
The area is such a beautiful part of the Scottish highlands. Thanks for sharing this story Murray.

@garrygreen3210 1 day ago

Very sensitively told Murray lad, a horrific story really nicely covered. I hope Philip went on to an enjoyable future, and was able to honour his friends and not let them be forgotten.

@geoffcumming5319 1 day ago

There was also a tragedy in 1951 when 4 members of the Glencoe Mountaineering Club died in fierce winter conditions while enroute from Corrour Station to Ben Alder cottage. The sole survivor, wife of one of the deceased, eventually made it back to the Head Keeper's house on Corrour Estate to raise the alarm. This was the same place as St. Underwood had struggled to in order to raise the alarm, 9 years earlier, in 1942.

@BrianWelshPhotography 1 day ago (edited)

nice 1 Murray ..its great to learn the history of the bombers ..iv came across a few on the hills myself and it makes you wonder ..
hardy young men bk in those days ..

@WildPauls 1 day ago

Great video and to see you doing something a little different Murray. I’d certainly be interested in watching more like this 👍

@fittappintrails8731 1 day ago

Beautifully told story of this tragedy. I recalled a similar one on Beinn Eighe which I covered in one of my slideshows. So many Scottish hills have had plane crashes in adverse weather conditions. Terrible loss of young lives. Thanks Murray. ATB.

@erinmcgrathejm4985 1 day ago

Really interesting one, Murray. Thanks for introducing this to me. I imagine it’s quite a sobering thing to experience. Cheers, and ATB!

@mk1aquatic739 1 day ago

Very good video. Those service people were made of tough stuff. Surviving a crash and then getting off the mountain, with no technology and clothing that wouldn't have been adequate would take some doing. I've been up Great Carrs in the Lake District where there's still some wreckage of a Halifax bomber and a memorial cairn. In the south downs near where I live there's a number of ww2 crash sites, including one of a Lancaster of dambusters squadron. The recurring theme in almost all of them is bad weather and visibility in winter months. The number of aircrew in their teens and 20's lost in all these crashes is staggering. That's without all those lost in combat.

@DaveyPalmer1 1 day ago

A fascinating yet very poignant story Murray. That poor young 'un who survived that crash must have been so scared and so cold. A humbling survival story.

@daviddonnelly7182 1 day ago

Quite amazing how the mountains retain these stories and memories, some sad, some tragic and some happy...I often have moments when I find myself just thinking and wondering about the past, the people etc who have set foot before me...quite therapeutic for me personally.

@LincolnTimeShifts 1 day ago

Fantastic stuff Murray, different to your usual stuff, but in some ways all the more fascinating for that. These aren't mountains I know apart from looking at them on maps and guidebooks, but as a kid who was aircraft mad I've always had an interest in looking for crash sites like this. One of our favourites is a USAF B-29 on Bleaklow in the Derbyshire Peak District. Sadly no one survived that crash, and it is extra sad because they were flying to some R&R near Manchester.