Hello. Many thanks to all those who contributed to my query with regard to the two pieces of aluminium found on Worthing beach in West Sussex. The “experts” among you agree that at least one of the parts is a piece of geodetic from a Wellington or Warwick. Of course these pieces could have traveled some distance before washing up on Worthing beach but does anyone know of a Wellington or Warwick that crashed in the sea during the Second World War which is the nearest to Worthing? My thought is if I can identify the nearest Wellington or Warwick crash then presumably this is the aircraft these pieces have come from, although I guess this may not necessarily be the case. Attached are the small aluminium pieces found on the beach and an example of the geodetic framework.
By: Foray - 9th July 2014 at 15:14
UKWMO,
I think you mean Ross, but you’ve got there in your next post.
Ross,
Thanks, it sounds like how many fishing harbours were a few decades ago. Much less so now and with objects in a much worse state.
Geoff
By: UKWMO - 9th July 2014 at 13:52
Interesting – perhaps I’ll have to go and have a look.
By: Ross_McNeill - 9th July 2014 at 13:36
Not a museum style collection more scrap dumped in several gardens and yards.
I was working on updating the screens on a Southern Water storm water pumping station that was situated just on the A259 and the eastern end of the harbour.
As a lunchtime break from the location I used to walk down the road and from the foot path you can see over fences into the lower yards and “garden” area of the houses to the south of the road.
Several yards had pallets which variously contained 3 or less bladed props c/w reduction gear or corroded u/c legs with gleaming oleo shafts.
From floats, lobster pots etc that were also in the yards they were obviously owned by families that operated out of the port for local fishing.
Got the impression that once enough metal scrap had accumulated it would be weighed in locally.
Ross
By: UKWMO - 9th July 2014 at 13:01
Hello Geoff,
I’m intrigued about the open air collection at Shoreham. Is this located at the visitor centre at Shoreham Airport?
By: Foray - 9th July 2014 at 09:43
Ross,
Any photos of the open air colection at Shoreham?
Geoff
By: UKWMO - 8th July 2014 at 22:22
Again many thanks for your information – very useful. With regard to the parts recovered from the beach, I wasn’t aware of such laws so yes will definitely look into this. Thanks for making me aware.
By: Ross_McNeill - 8th July 2014 at 22:12
Best primary source is the Operations Record Book for each unit held at The National Archives, Kew.
One is available for download online (Z1278 – No.305 Sqn) but the other needs either a personal visit or a researcher to copy for you (DV731 – No.28 OTU)
Both are summarised in the RAF Bomber Command Losses series of books by W Chorley
For Z1278 I also suggest a visit to Shoreham RNLI as the ‘Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn’ was launched and recovered wreckage.
I assume from the photos that you have removed the parts from the foreshore so you may also like to review this thread and post #61 in particular to see what you need to do within 28 days to keep the right side of the Receiver of Wreck.
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?128575-Big-black-thing-on-a-beach/page3
Regards
Ross
By: UKWMO - 8th July 2014 at 22:00
That’s great, thanks for the information. Any idea how I could learn more about these particular wellington’s? Is there a particular book that covers them with info on Squadron, destination, cause of crash, etc?
By: Ross_McNeill - 8th July 2014 at 21:14
Five Wellington off the Sussex coast that could appear in the Worthing local given winter storms and longshore drift but could also be deeper wreck parts brought in by trawler and dumped offshore – there are quite a few props and u/c legs sitting against the walls close to Shoreham Harbour.
Looking closer to Worthing
6/12/42 Z1278 off Littlehampton
11/8/43 DV731 off Shoreham
Ross
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July 8, 2014 at 8:59 pm