JZ159 alongside HMS Trumpeter just before sinking to the bottom of Scapa Flow
Photo: Arthur Howes from the Gregor Lamb Collection.
JZ159 started her life with the Fleet Air Arm on board HMS Nabob as part of 852 Sqn coded 2F.
Above: JZ159 as `2F` when she was with Nabob. Photo: C.Bristow via R.Sturtivant.
HMS Nabob
On 22nd August 1944 HMS Nabob together with HMS Trumpeter and HMS Kent were participating in operation ''Goodwood'', a combined attack on the battleship Tirpitz and to attacks on German airfields and mine laying operations to be conducted by the Avenger aircraft. Weather prevented the operation from taking place and while heading back to Scapa Flow HMS Nabob was torpedoed by U354 killing 21 of the crew and leaving a 35 foot hole in the side of the ship. Despite a massive effort by the crew to get Nabob back to Britain she was deemed not worth repairing and she was towed to Rosyth and beached and then scrapped in 1946.
HMS Nabob damaged
JZ159 was then moved to join 846 Sqn on HMS Trumpeter and Coded C.
Whilst in Scapa Flow JZ159 took off from HMS Trumpeter on 31/08/1944 to fly to Hatston for compass swinging but failing to gain height and ditched almost straight away. The crew managed to escape and were saved before the aircraft sank to the bottom of the Flow. Some great photos were taken of the ditching.
The crew were:
Sub.Lt D.A. Thomas RN
A/M: Arthur Jacobs
L/A David G Heath
.These photo's shows JZ159 taking off then ditching
Photo: Arthur Howes from the Gregor Lamb Collection
HMS Trumpeter from Avenger
HMS Trumpeter
Corgi made a diecast model of JZ159 as she was on HMS Nabob.
thanks to eDiecast from Hatton Model Railways
http://www.ediecast.co.uk/stockdetail.aspx?sid=20539&img=4
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