For Ross McNeil

Thanks Ross

That’s great. Thought you would know…

The Whitley crew that ditched in May 1943 were picked up by a Sunderland on 29 May 1943. The Sunderland went on to sink after getting damaged and both crews were later rescued by a second Sunderland!

Ahh..BD282 on 27/05/43
At 14:33 hrs sent an SOS stating that an engine had cut. The captain gave the order to prepare for ditching but the aircraft struck the Bay of Biscay too soon for the crew to fully complete their drills. The bomb aimer was coming up from the nose and suffered a fractured ankle and deep cuts to his knees. The rear gunner was leaving his turret and on being thrown down by the impact, fractured his left arm. In spite of their injuries the crew were able to board their Q type dinghy without difficulty.

Before leaving the aircraft the WOp threw the dinghy radio into the sea but forgot the kite container in his excitement. The crew paddled towards the radio and retrieved it before remaining at sea anchor a few yards from the aircraft. The weather showed signs of severe deterioration and at 10:00 hrs, working from the instructions, they rigged the mast and hoisted the mainsail. After six hours sailing they were sighted by Sunderland O/461 which tried to land but crashed in the process. After the impact the Whitley crew set sail and joined up with the Sunderland survivors to await rescue.

Finally, on the 29th, both crews were picked up by Sunderland E/461 and trasferred to a RN Destroyer.

The detail for Sunderland O/461 is:

While on patrol the crew sighted the sail of a Q type dinghy. At 17:30 hrs the Sunderland was given permission to land to pick up survivors in position PBVV5022. Attempted to land across wind but stalled and dipped the nose into the Bay of Biscay swell at 17:33 hrs close to the survivors from P/10 OTU. On impact the Sunderland’s J type dinghy came out of the blow-out storage and all the crew, apart from F/L Dods, managed to board it. The OTU crew then set sail and made fast alongside the Sunderland crew to await further rescue. Soon afterwards a Whitley was sighted and flares fired but they went without notice. Just as it was getting dusk the crew were sighted by a Sunderland and a destroyer was despatched. The next morning the sea was calmer so the survivors were picked up by E/461 but the overloaded Sunderland could not take off and was towed by destroyer L19 towards Devonport. F/L Dods is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

Just to complete the story here is E/461…note the final landing place!

After landing to rescue survivors of O/461 the Sunderland was taken in tow by destroyer L19. When the tow rope broke at 17:25 hrs the engines were started and during the rough sea take off it struck a large wave which made a 7 foot by 4 foot hole in the hull. F/O Singleton crash landed on Angle airfield at 20:40 hrs. Although minimal damage was caused during landing the Sunderland was considered damaged beyond repair and became 4446M.

Regards
Ross

Thanks Peter

From Coastal Command Losses Vol 1 by Ross McNeill

22 October 1941
612 Squadron
Whitley V
Serial. T4329. Wl-U

Ditched returning from the Bay of Biscay crew picked up by Sunderland of 10 RAAF Squadron.

Hi Ross

The Whitley crew that ditched in May 1943 were picked up by a Sunderland on 29 May 1943. The Sunderland went on to sink after getting damaged and both crews were later rescued by a second Sunderland!

Cheers

Hi Elliott,

Think that the 17 April 1940 was N1352

“Third aircraft – P/O Hall and crew – sent SOS at 22:07 and at 22:34 all signals ceased.
The aircraft distress organisation was put into action and at 02:00 four members of the crew were found in the dinghy by HMS Basilisk.
The captain P/O Hall was not picked up and is presumed drowned.”

Think that your 13/06/43 was BD220

Severley damaged by U-564 during an attack and later ditched into the Bay of Biscay approximately 80 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly. The crew were picked up three days later by a French trawler.

Shot down by Lt Friedrich Maeder of 13/KG40 at 17:57 hrs.

May 1943 rescued by Spanish or British?

If Spanish then two possibles BD260 on 17/05/43 or Z9440 on 30/05/43.

Regards
Ross

Two losses without survivors in Jan 1943, BD272 on 06/01/43 and Z6834 on 29/01/43 but the later is after your publication date.

Casting the net a bit further gives EB363 on 17/12/42 and AD687 on 14/12/42

Regards
Ross

Hi Elliott,

Think that the 17 April 1940 was N1352

“Third aircraft – P/O Hall and crew – sent SOS at 22:07 and at 22:34 all signals ceased.
The aircraft distress organisation was put into action and at 02:00 four members of the crew were found in the dinghy by HMS Basilisk.
The captain P/O Hall was not picked up and is presumed drowned.”

Think that your 13/06/43 was BD220

Severley damaged by U-564 during an attack and later ditched into the Bay of Biscay approximately 80 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly. The crew were picked up three days later by a French trawler.

Shot down by Lt Friedrich Maeder of 13/KG40 at 17:57 hrs.

May 1943 rescued by Spanish or British?

If Spanish then two possibles BD260 on 17/05/43 or Z9440 on 30/05/43.

Regards
Ross

From Coastal Command Losses Vol 1 by Ross McNeill

22 October 1941
612 Squadron
Whitley V
Serial. T4329. Wl-U

Ditched returning from the Bay of Biscay crew picked up by Sunderland of 10 RAAF Squadron.