Found this:
“Throughout the rest of the war, 765 Squadron were stationed at Sandbanks, flying a number of different planes. The Mitchell designed Walrus with a “pusher” engine mounted under the high wing, hanging over the cockpit, which made a particularly high pitched unpleasant noise, Fairey Swordfish, [known as “Stringbags”], Fairey Sea Fox, American built Vought-Sikorsky Kingfishers, and in 1943 the new Supermarine Sea Otter along with the French Marcel Besson MB-411.“
https://www.rmyc.club/rmyc/history/
“Perhaps the most intriguing story – concerns the Marcel Besson Seaplane MB-411: Petrel which had been attached to the Free French Submarine Battle Cruiser Surcouf, moved from Plymouth to Poole (issues of security), during Autumn 1941. It then sailed to be involved in the liberation on 24th. December 1941, of St Pierre et Miquelon – French isles off Canada. Petrel was left at RNAS Sandbanks for uncertain purposes – but was scrapped at RAF Mount Batten when spares ran out.”
[ATTACH=CONFIG]254107[/ATTACH]
“Marcel Besson MB-411 Seaplane, formerly of the French Sub. Battle Cruiser Surcouf, when placed with 765 Squadron at the Royal Naval Air Station Sandbanks, in the Winter of 1941, and renamed Petrel”
http://archive.pooleflyingboats.com/03%20Newcomers-at-Poole-with-RNAS-Sandbanks.pdf
Martin
Sign In
