Mk3 Dakota FL515

Thanks D D, you were right, Gibraltar was the destination. I now have the ops book from 511 squadron for the month and Gibraltar was confirmed as the destination. The ops book states that the day before on the transit flight from Lyneham, there were 6 passengers and just over 2000lbs of cargo, and so will assume this was the case for the onward leg to Gibraltar.

I also think that I may have a location for the wreck, which is 1 mile north of Portreath and not the airfield at Portreath. I am in contact with a marine archaeologist, who may be able to help further. I will update if I find out more…

Thanks for your help to date

Marts

I would think that the route would have been southwest to the Bay of Biscay, first stop Gibraltar, giving the enemy-held coast of France a wide berth.

DD

His probable destination was Gibralter or Malta as India was probably not on the route plan at the time of the accident.

http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/511_wwII.html

just a quick update. I have found that Harry was one of the twelve passengers aboard the aircraft which was heading overseas. I believe that he was trained as a radio operator (like my grandfather who was stationed in the Y station at Chicksands) and was be posted abroad. I know that Portreath was an airbase which ferried bods down to the Med and North Africa, so will try to find FL515’s destination.

In the meantime, I am hoping to make a visit to see FL517 and will be looking through other Cornish records to find out more about what happened.

Again if anyone has any photos knocking around of 511 squadron anywhere…

Thanks again for your help

Marts

Thanks for all the help guys, this is of great help. Your routes of enquiry are broadening my thoughts as well….
I wonder what the next twist will be?

The RNLI record of service records only the “No Service” from the St Ives boat crew. Coastguard was a separate service.

The attached pages are the RAF Form 1180 Accident Card that summarises the detail.

This suggests primary cause as incorrect loading but AOCinC differs. Fire will probably occurred just after or before they hit the sea.

Copyright is acknowledged as RAF AHB/RAF Museum Hendon for these series of cards.

Regards
Ross

Very violent then! I am assuming that the RNLI search would have been restricted to surface debris and survivors/debris, together with beach combing etc?

Problem had occurred before they hit the sea.

From the RNLI Records of Service 1939-46 – relating to the crash of FL515

NOVEMBER 30TH. – ST. IVES, CORNWALL.
An aeroplane had crashed into the sea on fire, but nothing could be found.-
Rewards, £30 4s.

Regards
Ross

This is as I understand it, possibly from the same report. From this, I assume that something quite dramatic must have happened, maybe a mechanical failure, or possibly shot down. I have heard that shifting cargo can occur, but I am not sure as to how much cargo would have been on board with 12 passengers?

It must have been pretty violent whatever happened, as nobody survived and the aircraft was/is in only 10-15m of water (as far as I can make out from local diving websites).

That would be a reasonable assumption, but I don’t know. The US serial registration file describes the aircraft as having ‘spun in’ to the sea.

I have also found this report, which has been of some help. Is the time shown the time of the incident?

First report here.

30-11-1943
0129hrs
Douglas Dakota Mark III FL515 of 511 Squadron based at Lyneham, Wiltshire crashed into the sea 1 mile N of Portreath Airfield. The aircraft submerged with the 12 crew and passengers.

http://www.rafdavidstowmoor.org/pages/crash_log/crashlog43.html

C/n was 10098 and US s/n 42-24236.