Memorial monument in Holtaheia, Strand

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Holtaheia is situated in Strand municipality, south in the Ryfylke region. These beautiful heathlands offer memorable hill walking. Here`s a depiction on the accident:

It's Wednesday afternoon on August 9th, 1961. The plane Papa Mike, a Vicker-Viking machine from Cunard-Eagle Airways, is on its way from London to Sola airport outside of Stavanger. On board is a crew of 3, 2 teachers and 34 boys aged 13 to 16 years from Lanfranc School in Croyden. They are going on a summer trip to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge. For many of them, it is the first time on a plane.

The weather is bad, with a low cloud cover and stormy gusts. During the final approach, the airport control tower suddenly loses touch with the aircraft. Papa Mike goes off course and turns east, flying at a low altitude most probably due to a technical failure. The plane crashes into the mountainside. Everyone on board is killed.

In entire area, there are debris from the plane. In respect of the deceased and their families and loved ones we ask that these be left untouched.

At the top of the mountain, a stone cross has been erected to commemorate the Lanfranc boys and the others on board. The unveiling of the cross in May 1962, gathered several hundred people. Among them many of the families of the deceased who felt they needed to see the scene of the accident "to sense whether any essence of the boys collective joy of life remained there". Go to the top, look at the view and try and get a sense of this you too.