Over the next few years we hope to locate, survey & document several aircraft crash sites on land which include:

F4F-4  Wildcat  BU 12209   US Navy  Crashed Hatston. 21/08/1943.

 

 

At approx 16.15 hrs on 21 August 1943, the F4F-4 belonging to VF-4 Squadron USS Ranger was returning to Hatston,Kirkwall, from a routine air tactics flight and was on final approach when at a height of around 4ft off the runway, the aircraft was seen to stall and the port wing dropped,the pilot applied throttle but the wing then clipped the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled causing the engine to rip clear of its mounting from the firewall, and extensive damage to both wings, fuselage and the tail section, the pilot Ensign Burtwell Hawkins fortunately escaped any serious injuries but the Wildcat was a total write off. 

 

Above:  Ens Hawkins aboard the ship and  USS Ranger pictured here in 1942. Both photos: http://www.airgroup4.com/ranger.htm 

 

Supermarine Walrus  Serial U/K  RN.   Wind Wick bay, S.Ronaldsay 1940s.

 

       

Earlier in the year ARGOS were contacted regarding an aircraft reputed to have crashed into the cliffs above Wind Wick,a part from this aircraft had been given to a local Blacksmith in South Ronaldsay,William Mowatt and William Shearer was given this part, when it was examined it was established from part numbers it was found to be from a Supermarine Walrus type, though no aircraft of this type has been traced as being lost in this area, it still can`t be ruled out. Two of the type L2329 and X9481 are reported to have collided over the Pentland Firth on 24/9/42 and their remains and those of their crews have never been found, so depending how far over the Pentland the accident occurred, it remains a slight possibility that the one in Wind Wick was one of the latter?

   Walrus Part.  Photo: William Shearer.

ARGOS Members paid a visit to the area in May 2010 but nothing apart from debris from nearby crofts was found in the bay.  

 

Above: Wind Wick bay.   Photo:  Dave Earl.                     

DH-82 Tiger Moth  NL699.  313 Sq.   Cr.Sanday.  23/8/1944.

                                           

The pilot of this Tiger Moth, had flown up to Sanday from Skeabrae to inspect an emergency landing ground for the squadron based there, having made a successful landing on the island that afternoon it was nearing 13.00 hrs when in a gusty 20 mph wind the pilot F/Sgt William Hallett and a passenger, made an attempt to take off but having not gained sufficient speed, the aircraft stalled as it only just cleared a dry stone wall and crashed to the ground.

Fortunately although the aircraft was a write off, the two crew were OK. Though the pilot was quite experienced with a total of 465 hours flying time logged, he only had 6 hours on the Tiger Moth so it would be a reasonable asumption that  he was unfamiliar with its handling characteristics and this may have contributed to the loss,the aircraft being much lighter and having much less power that he was used to with the Spitfires he normally flew.

Spitfire BL686   602 Squadron, Cr: Shapinsay.  7/3/1944.

                                                

Taking off on a dawn patrol at 06.30 on 7 March 1944, were two RAF Spitfires from 602 Squadron, Skeabrae. Leading the flight was F/O Bruce Oliver, a RNZAF pilot from Christchurch and a veteran of  185 and 72  Squadron who had previously seen action over France and Malta. Flying as No2 was another New Zealand pilot, F/O Danny Morgan, both had been with 602 since Detling and had arrived in Orkney in January.  

                                                        

                                                         F/O Bruce Oliver RNZAF - Photo:  Sue Oliver.

Weather  that day was good with clear skies and unusually warm for that time of year, the two Spitfires had flown East and were out over the North Sea when the oil pressure began to rise in F/O Oliver`s aircraft BL686, they swiftly turned for home but on nearing the South end of Shapinsay Isle, the engine of the Spitfire gave up, swiftly F/O Oliver cast his eyes over the crofts and green pastures below,and selected a field for a wheels up crash landing, his machine slid along the ground for several hundred feet but eventually came to rest in a field owned by the Bews family at Stathore, the Spit had a bent prop and broken engine but was relatively in one piece.

          

           

Farmer Mr Rendall rushed over to the scene in case the pilot was injured, but on his arrival was elated to see he was OK and stood on the wing combing his hair.

A guard was placed at the scene and and the Spitfire dismantled and taken away to Kirkwall by boat within a space of about 3 weeks, though not before gaining the attention of many young boys who were given the thill of sitting in the cockpit by the Home Guard.   

Douglas SBD-5  Dauntless  Bu 28709.  USN   2ml  S of Grimsetter. 8/9/1943

                                                

When in port, carrier borne aircraft were dispersed to various land stations for safety, one such aircraft a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless torpedo bomber of VB-4 Squadron had arrived in Scapa Flow with USS Ranger a US Navy carrier. All Ranger aircraft were sent to RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) Kirkwall, and would take to the air two or 3 times a day on practice flights. 

Whilst  on a routine carrier landing practice flight from Hatston on 9 September 1943 flying in SBD-5 28709  the aircraft suffered an engine failure and the pilot Ensign  Harry.L.Dunn found the nearest piece of flat ground and made an effective wheels up crash landing in a stubble field 2 miles South of the airfield, fortunately there was no fire and he sustained no injuries.  

Note:  For more info on this type of aircraft see our Video Page. 

 

Spitfire MB765  - 453 (RAAF) Sq Skeabrae - Cr. Deerness,  18/12/1943.

                                                    

Joining 453 Australian squadron in August 1943 was F/Sgt Joshua William Scott a 23 year old pilot from Nanango, Queensland.  He had joined the squadron at Drem and they were now operating out of Skeabrae,Orkney.

On 18th December 1943 at 13.45 the tannoy rang out and he was scrambled, however a little over 20 miniutes elapsed when his engine suffered uncontrolable revs and eventually caught fire off the East coast of Orkney, he quickly turned inland and made a good belly landing in a field in Deerness at 14.10 hrs causing only Catagory B damage and escaped being injured.

Above:  RAAF No 19 Pilots' Course at No 5 Special Flying Training School (5 SFTS), which began in February 1942 and was completed on 23 June 1942.  F/Sgt Scott  is pictured in this group of trainees as an LAC  but photo does not say where he is located in photo.   Photo:  Australian War Memorial.

It is believed the Spitfire was taken away within a week or so of it coming down and with little damage it is thought that nothing will remain in the field, nr Newhall farm, William was given a compass from an aircraft that crashed in this area so it is possible it came from the Spitfire.    

 

De Haviland Dominie NR795 - Station Flt,Skeabrae - Millfield Camp. 1/6/1945.

This DH-89 Dominie NR795 was flying back up to Skeabrae from Scotland with 3 passengers who were due to take up residence in Orkney, it was seen to fly over the golf course, harbour and Stromness town and at very low height of around 40-60ft it flew over the army camp at Millfield,it was during this manoeuvre that something went tragically wrong and the aircraft struck the roof of a Nissen hut, hit a parked lorry and then crashed to the ground killing the 3 passengers instantly and critically injuring the pilot who was to later die in hospital.   

Pilot:   F/O T.G.R.Rowe.  RAFVR.

Pass:   Sgt  W.Dennis.  RAFVR.

Pass:   Sgt  W.F.Colborne. RAFVR.

Pass:   Cpl  N.C.Brimmicombe.  RAFVR.

 

Above: Two photos taken at the time show the wing of the Dominie on the left and the battered army lorry on the right.  Photo:  Orkney Library Photo Archives.

Grave of F/O Thomas G.R.Rowe in St.Olaf`s Cemetery,Kirkwall.  Photo: Dave Earl.

 

Blackburn Skua L2946  803 Sq  11/1/1940.  Tor Ness,Stronsay.

                                            

 Skua L2946 spun in of a turn and crash landed on Stronsay 11/01/1940 with the loss of both crew.  Midshipman Barr J.D.W. died in hospital and L/A Uren G died in the Ambulance. Locals on the Island of Stronsay who remember the crash have pointed us to the area but told us that the wreck site was cleared and what was left was thrown over a cliff. This wreckage that was left was then later cleared for scrap.

                            

                            John D.W.Barr      George E.Uren - Photo: Via Ken Sims. 

Junkers Ju-88A-5    4N+AL    3(F)/22   Sandwick,   25/12/1940.

On Christmas day 1940 a little after 2pm, Six Grumman Martlets of 804 sq Fleet Air Arm took to the skies over Orkney in pursuit of a Ju-88 alegedly on a photo-reconnaisance mission off the North Scottish islands, the raider was soon intercepted by two Royal Naval pilots Sub/Lt Parke and Lt Carver and several hits were made on the machine damaging the starboard radiator and port engine oil pipe, other hits riddled the tailplane and dorsal fin leaving no option for its pilot but to make a crash landing with its air gunner badly wounded.

Above: Ju-88  4N+AL  soon after a good crash landing in a field near Flotterson,just to the south of Loch Skail. Photo: Gregor Lamb Collection, Orkney Photo Library.  

The pilot Leutnant Karl Schipp made a very skilful crash landing in a field in Sandwick thus saving all the crew, they quickly vacated the aircraft and thoughts turned to setting it on fire to prevent its capture by British forces,but their plans were thwarted when two farmers Thomas Harcus and his son Leslie,who were both in the Home Guard, arrived on the scene with guns, soon to be joined by others, the airmen were later picked up and taken back to the mainland for interogation and medical treatment for the wounded gunner. 

Crew of the Ju-88:

Pilot:   Lt   K. Schipp.

Obs:   Fw  H.Schreiber.

W/T:  Uffz  H.Sportl.

A/G:   Ogefr K.Rotter.     

       

Above: Luftwaffe pilot  Lt Karl Schipp. Above:  Dave Earl with an air bottle from the Ju88. Photo: Dave Ramsey.                         

 Despite the short spell of  victory by the Martlet pilots, one of them Sub/Lt (A) Thomas Robert Verner Parke was to lose his life just 7 months later when on 7th July 1941 he an his Telegraphits Air Gunner L/Air E.F.Miller in a Fairey Fulmer N4038 flew into high ground on the Mull of Kintyre in bad weather. He is buried in Kilkerran Cemetery,Campbeltown.

While researching this aircraft a number of items recovered during the war by locals have come to light, an air bottle with the stencil `Aternluft` was found along with an alloy construction paddle for the main dinghy which is is 3 sections and slots together with pins rather like tent poles an awning poles do today,it is thought that the Werk number likely refers to the serial number of the dinghy or paddle equipment and not the aircraft, but if anyone can varify this or knows different we would be pleased to hear from them.   

 

 

 

Above:  Dave Earl with the dinghy paddle from the Ju88 and below the makers ID. Photos: Dave Ramsey.

 JU88  4D + EK   KG-30  17/10/1939  Pegal Burn, Hoy.                                               

 

                                                     

This aircraft was shot down by Anti Aircraft fire on 17^th October 1939 during an attempt to attack the Battleship Iron Duke. Three of the four crew were killed. This was the first German plane to be shot down on British soil by AA guns in WW2 .

Crew:

Pilot:           OBLT.               Flaemig           (Killed)

Obs:           Obergefr.           Faust               (Killed)

W/AG.        Uffz.                  Attenburger     (Killed)

W/AG         Uffz.                  F.Ambrosius    (Injured)

 

 Uffz  F. Ambrosius, The only survivor. 

Pegal Burn, crash site for the Ju88, a few small pieces of the aircraft were found near the area in the centre of the picture.  Photo: Dave Earl

 

Above:  A few of the pieces of the Ju88 found in 2007. Photo: Dave Earl.

Almost certainly the graves of three of the Ju88 crew in two unknown graves in Lyness Naval Cemetery,though it seems odd that although understandaby they may not have been able to ID the bodies due to the explosion,but why were the headstones not dated? Photo: Dave Earl

Part of this JU88 crash site has been found by Dave Earl but more work is needed to establish the size of the crash area and see what is left of this aircraft. 

       

Blackburn Skua L3026  771 Sq  27/8/1943  Houton Head,Orkney Mainland.

                                                      

Skua L3026 span into Houton Head from 300 feet on 27/08/1943 killing both the crew

Pilot.    F/L Peter K.W. Nias RNVR.

TAG.    L/A Alfred L Fletcher.

 Local Farmer K.T.Flett was employed to drag the wreckage to the top of Houton Head where nearly all of it was taken away on an RAF lorry. Mr Flett's son Sandy who remembers the crash took ARGOS's members William Shearer & Kevin Heath to the crash site. Sandy remembers as a child picking up bits of perspex from the crash area but no other wreckage could be seen.

Sandy Flett near to the Skua crash site which his father cleared in 1943. Photo: Kevin Heath.

 

Both crew are buried in St Olaf's Kirkwall.  Photos: Dave Earl

 

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