WARWICK BV520 - 281 SQ. 17.11.44 WEST VOE,SHETLAND
This aircraft was returning from an ASR patrol when due to an engine failure he was attempting to land at Sumburgh, however he was not lined up for the runway on approach,he did another circuit in order to find alignment but got caught in a downdraught from Sumburgh Head, the pilot was unable to maintain correct height and speed on one engine and forced to ditch in West Voe,one crew member Sgt Roberts drowned,rest were saved.
CREW:
PILOT: F/O L.W.JENNER. RAF
F/O C.R.HYDE. RAAF.
F/O D.TEMPLE. RAF
F/S A.H.DIXON. RCAF
F/S E.ROBERTS. RAF
W/O H.C.MOFFAT.RAF
Sgt Eric Roberts headstone in Lerwick Cemetery. Photo:Dave Earl
FAIREY SWORDFISH L2794 - 821 SQ. 26/10/40 QUENDALE BAY,SHETLAND.
This aircraft took off from Hatston on a routine patrol when engine trouble occurred the pilot landed at Sumburgh to let the engine cool,it took off a while later for home but a few minutes later suffered engine failure and dived into the Bay of Quendale,Shetland, killing all 3 crew.
CREW:
SUB/LT (A) P.B.LAYCOCK. RN
MID: R.T.CHAMBERS. RN
NA1: B.F.A BREWSTER. RN.
NA1 Brewster (Photo: Via TAG Assn)
VICKERS WELLINGTON HX732 OFF VAILA, SHETLAND
This aircraft ditched on 8/11/1942 after engine problems. Sgt Smith went down with the aircaft and was never recovered, Sgt McGrath washed ashore dead and is buried in Wick. The other four crew came ashore in a dinghy
CREW:
P/O D Fraser RCAF
Sgt Thompson
F/Sgt Davies
Sgt F V Smith
Sgt J P McGrath RCAF
Sgt Hutchinson
Short Sunderland N9046 at Sullom Voe. 11/12/1940.
At 13.12 hours this Sunderland flying boat of 204 Squadron Coastal Command which was coded KG-F suddenly caught fire at moorings and was completely gutted causing Cat.E. damage. Cause as yet not known, it is believed the aircraft is still in Sullom Voe.
Catalina JX581 210 Sq Sullom Voe. 05/05/1944.
The Catalina had been on a routine bombing exercise and was returning to Sullom Voe, however the aircraft came in too fast, over ran the landing area ,struck some rocks off Sella Ness and with a badly damaged hull eventually sank. It is believed at low tide some large parts of the aircraft can still be seen. We visited the scene in 2007 and some small pieces of aircraft alloy were found on the shore, though as no part numbers were found it was impossible to say if these were from the Catalina or a number of aircraft that have ended up in the Voe.
Pilot: F/O N.Wheatley. + 7 Crew all OK.
Top : Small pieces of aircraft alluminium at Sullom Voe, possibly from the Catalina and Above: Geoff Bland with Sella Ness behind. Photos: Geoff Bland.
Saro London L7042 Lerwick Harbour 22/11/1939
The London flying boat of 201 squadron built by Saunders & Roe, was moored in Lerwick harbour undergoing engine maintenance on 22 November when Shetland recieved its first air raid of the war, six Heinkel He 111s began to circle the town of Lerwick, but this early in the war towns and cities were spared and only military targets were sought, the London was chosen as an easy target but despite a number of bombs being dropped without and damage, the aircraft was straffed with machine gun fire and imediately burst into flames, fortunately the crew managed to swim clear and were picked up by fishing boats. The aircraft eventually sank but it is not known if anything still remains as these waters are often dredged to safeguard shipping.
Deepwater and Offshore sites
Blenheim IV T1949 404 (RCAF) Sq 06/10/1942 Off Lady`s Holm
On 6th October 1942 Blenheim T1949 took off from Sumburgh for a homing exercise with a Royal Navy destroyer, it was seen to be climbing into the teeth of a westerly gale when it was said by some that the port engine failed. It is thought the aircraft then stalled and at approx 8.01 hrs the Blenheim crashed into the sea near Lady`s Holm, a skerry to the west of Sumburgh, with the 3 crew tragically lost.
Sgt Reg Tinsley - Photo: Debra Meek.
From the majority of witnesses that came forward at a board of inquiry, it is still not certain for sure what went wrong,certainly smoke was omitted from the exhaust and the aircraft would not climb,but in retrospect this could according to the report have been attributed to "Faulty manipulation or mechanical failure of the controls" there was some speculation that sand may have got into the carburetors with the aircraft being parked close to the beach,but of course this is only speculation,though whatever the cause it cost 3 young lives.
Sgt T.F.McCarthy. Bristol Blenheim
Of the three crew only two were recovered, Sgt Reginald George Tinsley of Hadley who was buried in Barnet (Christ Church) Burial Ground,and W/O John H.Patterson a native of Chicago,Illinois, was buried in Lerwick Cemetery. Sadly Sgt Thomas F.McCarthy of West Hartlepool,Co.Durham has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede memorial.
Crew:
Pilot: W/O J.H.Patterson. RCAF.
Nav: Sgt R.G.Tinsley. RAFVR.
W/AG: Sgt T.F.McCarthy. RAFVR.
Contact has been made with family of Sgt Tinsley so any more information on this accident and/or the crew would be very much appreciated.
Ju-88D-5 1(F)/120 A6+BH Off Sumburgh Head. 24/03/1943
This Junkers Ju-88 Werk No. 430205 was flying from Stavanger/Sola in Norway heading for the Shetland Isles when at 17.54 hrs it was intercepted by Spitfires from 234 squadron and shot down in the sea 5 miles West of Sumburgh Head by Sgt Lane, the aircraft sank and there were no survivors and all were listed as missing presumed killed. 234 Squadron were based at Grimsetter (Kirkwall) but had a detachment of aircraft at Sumburgh.
Crew of the Ju-88.
Obfw F.Humbs.
Oblt S.Otternberg.
Obfw F.Raasch.
Uffz G.Bugram.
Bristol Beaufighter MK X 144 Sq NT827 Off Sumburgh. 29/01/1945.
This aircraft coded PL-J of 144 Squadron had been on an anti-shipping strike off the Norwgian Coast and was returning to its base in Scotland when an engine failed, following two attempts to land at Sumburgh, the pilot decided conditions were not good and there was a risk of damage to buildings or personal injury from an overshoot, so he decided,having sent out a distress signal to ditch in the sea which he did, some 5 miles SW of Sumburgh.
The pilot hit his head on ditching and was knocked out, the aircraft quickly sank but fortunately he recovered underwater,was able to free himself,swam to the surface and clamber into the dinghy. A Lindholme dinghy was also dropped but overturned,however the crew climbed on to this until they were picked up by a rowing boat.
Pilot: F/Sgt L.A.Holland.
Obs: F/Sgt J.McMillan.
Barracuda DP927 820 Sq. 9/12/1943. Off Ramma Stacks,Shetland.
The Barracuda from HMS Furious had been on a dive bombing exercise with live ordnance out in the North Atlantic, When at a height of approx 3,000ft asl it suddenly burst into flames and was seen to dive into the sea off Ramma Stacks, NE of Point of Fethaland on the Shetland Mainland, all 3 crew were killed.
The reason for this accident is still unclear,though engine fire perhaps due to a fuel leak could be a possibility,it is highly unlikely the true cause will ever be found.
The body of the pilot was recovered and he is buried in Lerwick Cemetery,Shetland,but the other two crew were never found and are commemorated on the Lee On Solent memorial.
Pilot: Sub/Lt R.D.West.
Obs: Sub/Lt J.Brown.
TAG: L/A E.W.Kelly.
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