Hello all,
While walking along Worthing beach in West Sussex, to the west of the pier, my wife and I found two pieces of aluminium. I have attached a photograph showing the pieces and wonder if they are from an aircraft. There were many planes, both British and German that crashed in the sea off Worthing during the war so they could be related to one of those aircraft. With currently writing a book on Lancaster PB355, which crashed on Worthing beach on 17th December 1944, I would of course like them to be from that but who knows. Any ideas?
By: UKWMO - 15th July 2014 at 10:30
Yes absolutely. Certainly my username suggests I could be. UKWMO was such a fascinating organisation, such a shame the men and women involved were never commended or acknowledged for their training and preparation for a role that thankfully was never needed!
By: Rockhopper - 9th July 2014 at 13:42
Are you a Sub Brit member by any chance?
By: UKWMO - 8th July 2014 at 20:31
Two images showing the geodetic construction………..
By: UKWMO - 7th July 2014 at 23:08
Thanks guys. Yes after looking at some pictures of Wellington or Warwick geodetic I was so pleased to be able to see that you’re all right. It’s also great to be able to match, with an example in a picture, the centre part of the geodetic piece and actually count 3 rivets either side and one in the centre! I’m now intrigued as to where the parts have washed up from and the distance they’ve travelled before washing up on the beach. Well I guess I’ll never know!
By: Graham Boak - 6th July 2014 at 22:59
Vickers Supermarine. But agreed that the Walrus was not geodetic – those aircraft which were, were Vickers Armstrong.
By: critter592 - 6th July 2014 at 20:34
Definitely not from a Supermarine Walrus! 🙂
The part number will (should) be stamped in the “channel” of that geodetic, either toward the end, or in the centre.
By: UKWMO - 6th July 2014 at 03:34
So the top piece in the photograph could be from a Wellington? Records state nothing about a Wellington going down in the area but there is a record for a Walrus that crashed in the sea on 21st July 1942. Also being built by Vickers, would they have used a similar part? I guess they could have washed up onto the beach from some distance away so can’t rule out a Wellington.
By: critter592 - 5th July 2014 at 00:13
Those top bits are definitely Wellington or Warwick geodetic. There will be part numbers on those, towards the ends…
The other part is the patch that was rivetted on Amelia Earhart’s Electra. I have already e-mailed TIGGER.
(Joking aside, there may be a number on that too.)
By: ian_ - 4th July 2014 at 17:36
The top bits looks like Wellington geodetic. The bottom part is, as AA suggests, sufficient evidence of Amelia’s Electra to organise a fund raising drive for TIGHAR.
By: UKWMO - 4th July 2014 at 17:36
By the way, if its any help – These are the documented aircraft that landed in the sea off Worthing:
8th April 1941
Heinkel 111
11th December 1941
Hampden
21st July 1942
Walrus
28th July 1942
Hurricane
19th August 1942
Havoc
Boston
Spitfire
Focke Wulf 190
19th March 1943
Hampden
27th March 1943
Junkers 88
24th October 1943
Autogyro
17th December 1944
Lancaster
22nd August 1955
Hawker Sea Hawk
By: lancaster1 - 4th July 2014 at 17:33
Top piece looks like a a part from a Wellington???
cheers,
Adrian
By: avion ancien - 4th July 2014 at 17:28
Only joking but…….
Maybe they came from Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra. I think that you’d better notify TIGHAR forthwith!
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July 4, 2014 at 5:15 pm