Channel Island Wrecks

Flown by New Zealander and Malta veteran F.O Robert Simm, Spitfire VI BR319

Don’t always believe what the locals tell you the first was a Hurricane of 87 Sqn not a FAA Corsair.

The Hellcat was left to rot and finally scrapped as far as I am aware no parts survived.

No B26 parts, especially engines are in Guernsey, though one of the landing gear is in the War Tunnels in Jersey, as is a part of the hood from a P51C that came down in Jersey. The only engine I can remember being at the Guernsey museum was a Merlin from a Spitfire.

Two B17s lie to the west of Guernsey IIRC “Screwball Express” and “Piccadilly Commando” both came down on News Years eve 1943. Parts have been retrieved by local divers.

A 49 Sqn Lancaster crashed on Sark 23/11/42 a 207 Sqn Lanc came down approx 10 miles north of Guernsey 24.10.42 as did three Typhoons of 263 Sqn 22/02/44, and another from 263 in June 1944 crashed on Jersey.

Two 263 Sqn Whirlwinds crashed to the South of Jersey in December 1942, another to the North of Sark along with a 616 Sqn Spitfire on 15/06/43.

A 439 Sqn Typhoon crashed close to the harbour mouth St Peter Port 05/06/44.

A Spitifre came down on Alderney IIRC sometime in 1942.

Several 41 Sqn Spitfire XII’s were lost around June 1944, one pilot lost one saved, another PRU Spitfire crashed onto cliffs to the south of Guernsey in 1943.

A 247 Sqn Typhoon came down close to Guernsey 28/02/44,
234 Sqn Spitfire close to Alderney 02/11/42 ,
431 Sqn Wellington, St Ouens Bay Jersey 10/04/43,
541 Sqn Spitfire close to Guernsey 25/01/43,

A P38 crashed onto cliff to the SW of Jersey early 1945, the pilot was rescued from the sea by a local.
P51C crash landed at St Ouen in mid 1944, as did a P47.
A C47 crashed into Bouley Bay to the north of Jersey, also in Mid 1944, all bar one of those on board died.

A 464 Sqn Ventura came down close to Guernsey, shot down by FW190’s 13/06/43.

And of course Spitfire Vb EN830 which crash landed in Jersey November 18 1942.

These are the ones that I can recall from memory, I will dig out a much more detailed list at the weekend.

Any more details on the 616 sqn Spitfire?

Thank you, I was responsible for it. Though mine is on a bunker at Noirmont Point on the South West coast.

Thats the one, couldn’t quite remember the positioning. Thank you for putting it there.

John

Note my area, as we try to stick to the North West of England – though have been known to stray to foriegn parts such as Cumbria and even Yorkshire!!! 😮

My first Forster was bought from a chap on Jersey, who said he had bought it in the hope of finding the iron cannon from a shipwreck just off shore – turned out after a few more years research he found a document in which it was noted that in a last desperate attempt to save his ship, the captain ordered the cannon to be thrown overboard some two miles before the ship came ashore and foundered – not aviation I know, but to those in the know it might help track down the location.

Anyway he was very dissapointed as in two years of searching the beach, all he found was the remains of an Me110!!! 😮 How true or elaborated the story is I have no idea – but I can tell you the Forster functions perfectly and is very good at pinpointing cannon – Hispano 😀

Interesting, the most noted diver in Jersey for this kind of thing is Tony Titterington, he owns several wrecks around the island including the SS SCHOKLAND a Dutch freighter which sank after hitting a reef in 1943 while under the command of the German forces, from which he has the main gun in one of his out-houses.

When I had chance to visit him a few years ago, he showed me part of a propeller from McPhail’s Whirlwind and the crank shaft from a Bristol Hercules (identity unknown) amongst other things. I believe he has given up diving due to ill health.

Note my area, as we try to stick to the North West of England – though have been known to stray to foriegn parts such as Cumbria and even Yorkshire!!! 😮

My first Forster was bought from a chap on Jersey, who said he had bought it in the hope of finding the iron cannon from a shipwreck just off shore – turned out after a few more years research he found a document in which it was noted that in a last desperate attempt to save his ship, the captain ordered the cannon to be thrown overboard some two miles before the ship came ashore and foundered – not aviation I know, but to those in the know it might help track down the location.

Anyway he was very dissapointed as in two years of searching the beach, all he found was the remains of an Me110!!! 😮 How true or elaborated the story is I have no idea – but I can tell you the Forster functions perfectly and is very good at pinpointing cannon – Hispano 😀

There is a plaque to two Whirlwind pilots at the large German gun position on the coastal cliffs (North west).

John

Thank you, I was responsible for it. Though mine is on a bunker at Noirmont Point on the South West coast.

Ah but the memory can play tricks.

An FAA pilot did come down near Lihou island, not in a Corsair, but in a Hurricane however this was not an 87 Sqn Hurricane that was a seperate incident.

A few more

1663 OCU Halifax V on 28/03/43, also a B25 mid 1944 .

276 Sqn Spitfire II clashed with FW190’s on 13/06/43 and came off worse. The pilot paddled ashore in Jersey.

Piccadilly Commando was from the 508th squadron of the 351st BG, all the crew survived the ditching.

There is a plaque to two Whirlwind pilots at the large German gun position on the coastal cliffs (North west).

John

Ah but the memory can play tricks.

An FAA pilot did come down near Lihou island, not in a Corsair, but in a Hurricane however this was not an 87 Sqn Hurricane that was a seperate incident.

A few more

1663 OCU Halifax V on 28/03/43, also a B25 mid 1944 .

276 Sqn Spitfire II clashed with FW190’s on 13/06/43 and came off worse. The pilot paddled ashore in Jersey.

Piccadilly Commando was from the 508th squadron of the 351st BG, all the crew survived the ditching.

These are the ones that I can recall from memory…

…from memory!

I don’t mind being corrected…but that’s just taking the P1$$! 😀

Hi there,

I heard from a local that a FAA pilot ditched his Corsair off Lihou Island
made to the shore and gave himself up to the Germans at low tide.
The Hellcat engine is at the Occupation museum along with an B-26 radial.

The Fw 190 bits came from the North shore on Herm Island and I was told
that a He 111 lies between Herm and the adjoining Island. A Me 109 was
just off the runway at Aldeney and lies of the beach. The Lanc and B-17
are off Lancresse beach.

Hope this helps, JJ.

Don’t always believe what the locals tell you the first was a Hurricane of 87 Sqn not a FAA Corsair.

The Hellcat was left to rot and finally scrapped as far as I am aware no parts survived.

No B26 parts, especially engines are in Guernsey, though one of the landing gear is in the War Tunnels in Jersey, as is a part of the hood from a P51C that came down in Jersey. The only engine I can remember being at the Guernsey museum was a Merlin from a Spitfire.

Two B17s lie to the west of Guernsey IIRC “Screwball Express” and “Piccadilly Commando” both came down on News Years eve 1943. Parts have been retrieved by local divers.

A 49 Sqn Lancaster crashed on Sark 23/11/42 a 207 Sqn Lanc came down approx 10 miles north of Guernsey 24.10.42 as did three Typhoons of 263 Sqn 22/02/44, and another from 263 in June 1944 crashed on Jersey.

Two 263 Sqn Whirlwinds crashed to the South of Jersey in December 1942, another to the North of Sark along with a 616 Sqn Spitfire on 15/06/43.

A 439 Sqn Typhoon crashed close to the harbour mouth St Peter Port 05/06/44.

A Spitifre came down on Alderney IIRC sometime in 1942.

Several 41 Sqn Spitfire XII’s were lost around June 1944, one pilot lost one saved, another PRU Spitfire crashed onto cliffs to the south of Guernsey in 1943.

A 247 Sqn Typhoon came down close to Guernsey 28/02/44,
234 Sqn Spitfire close to Alderney 02/11/42 ,
431 Sqn Wellington, St Ouens Bay Jersey 10/04/43,
541 Sqn Spitfire close to Guernsey 25/01/43,

A P38 crashed onto cliff to the SW of Jersey early 1945, the pilot was rescued from the sea by a local.
P51C crash landed at St Ouen in mid 1944, as did a P47.
A C47 crashed into Bouley Bay to the north of Jersey, also in Mid 1944, all bar one of those on board died.

A 464 Sqn Ventura came down close to Guernsey, shot down by FW190’s 13/06/43.

And of course Spitfire Vb EN830 which crash landed in Jersey November 18 1942.

These are the ones that I can recall from memory, I will dig out a much more detailed list at the weekend.

Channel Island crashes.

I have recently returned from a two week stay on the Channel Islands and found the wartime history of the Islands during the second world war breathtaking.

What I am interested in though is did any aircraft crash on the Islands during WW2 and what became of any pilots who may have landed there after bailing out?

Hi there,

I heard from a local that a FAA pilot ditched his Corsair off Lihou Island
made to the shore and gave himself up to the Germans at low tide.
The Hellcat engine is at the Occupation museum along with an B-26 radial.
The Fw 190 bits came from the North shore on Herm Island and I was told
that a He 111 lies between Herm and the adjoining Island. A Me 109 was
just off the runway at Aldeney and lies of the beach. The Lanc and B-17
are off Lancresse beach.

Hope this helps, JJ.

That was 1981 – a little while ago now.. 😉

SoG

Don’t forget the ‘Nazi pilot’ that ‘popped up’ again in an episode of the first series of Bergerac, “Late for a funeral”.

Ah, remembered fantasies of moving to Jersey and living in sin with Diamante Lil – (still pretty – and she owned a pub!).

Was that the one were the diver was looking in the cockpit of an Me 110?
If it was you ain’t that old———or is old age creeping up on me???????h’mmm:D

what about those left behind in the evacuation

I seem to recall reading in a recent edition of Aeropl*ne M*nthly that there was a Dragon Express left behind on Jersey. What became of it?????

Don’t forget the ‘Nazi pilot’ that ‘popped up’ again in an episode of the first series of Bergerac, “Late for a funeral”.

Ah, remembered fantasies of moving to Jersey and living in sin with Diamante Lil – (still pretty – and she owned a pub!).

Where do I start ??? At this late hour I won’t go into details however I have a list of roughly 30 allied aircraft and crew members that came down around the Channel Islands.

I also have a list of various Luftwaffe arcraft, though this is not that complete. I’ll post some details later.

The list includes, Sptifires, Lancasters, Hurricanes, Typhoons, Whirlwinds, Mosquito, P47, B17’s, Marauders, P51, C47, P38, Wellington, B25, Halifaxes and at least one B24.

Also HE111, JU88, JU87, JU52, FW190 (Parts in the Guernsey Occupation Museum), ME109, ME110 and a Bucker Jungmann.

If you want to do a easy search, just key in EN830 & Spitfire into google. There is a clue here

Given the islands rich wartime history I think you’ll find that relatively few aircraft crashed on, or around, the islands during the war.

I can only recall two P-47 fighters and a single Lancaster bomber being mentioned in the excellent ‘After the Battle’ book about the islands.

I’m happy to be corrected though. 🙂

I have recently returned from a two week stay on the Channel Islands and found the wartime history of the Islands during the second world war breathtaking.

What I am interested in though is did any aircraft crash on the Islands during WW2 and what became of any pilots who may have landed there after bailing out?

One for ‘EN830’.