Comments for Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea

Comment on Thanks…. by Hedley Edwards

Hedley Edwards — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:12:25 +0000

Hi, maybe not exactly what you’re after but I recall as a young ’spotter’ living in Lewes and regularly cycling to Ford and Tangmere. One day probably in 1955 or ‘56, I was spotting at the approach end of the westerly runway (on the Arundel/Littlehampton road). Whilst watching 2 or 3? Attackers turning on base leg for their short finals, one of them stalled and crashed in the vegetable field in a cloud of smoke. Don’t think the pilot survived as the a/c attitude was nearly inverted. The crash tender was soon on the scene. I always remember the ambulance guys in RN uniform stopping to ask me if I was ok, thinking that I might be suffering from shock, which I was, and offering to take me back home to Lewes. Don’t know why but I declined their offer! I would be interested if you already know of this accident, what was the actual date, the a/c regn, and what happened to the pilot. Hope this memory recall is useful. Rgds Hedley E

Comment on Welcome to the Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea project web pages by James King

James King — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:36:57 +0000

There are also one – possibly up to three, Sunderland Flying Boats in Lake Windermere, Cumbria. At least one is considered very complete.

Some years ago I was also told by an ex-RAF engineer that there were “at least a couple” of Sunderlands/Catalinas sunk during & just after the war off the cost of Northern Ireland. I have no better details of locations though.

Comment on Welcome to the Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea project web pages by Graham Scott

Graham Scott — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:43:56 +0000

Researcher Ross McNeill has suggested that this may be Sunderland Mk.III, ML883 of No.423 Sqn, which sank at its mooring in a gale on 17 December 1944. However he says that the mooring team was quite good at clearing the buoys and that it appears that the aircraft was quickly salvaged for scrap.

Ross says that two other Sunderlands are recorded as having been lost in the vicinity. Neither sank at its moorings. One broke up after hitting the sea in a turn off Calshot in 1946. Perhaps this could be the aircraft on the seabed?

Comment on Welcome to the Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea project web pages by Richard Reeves

Richard Reeves — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:03:21 +0000

There is as far as I am aware still a complete Sunderland Flyingboat on the seabed off Calshot Spit, where it sank on it’s mooring during bad weather, I believe it’s tail was broken off as it was considered a danger to shipping.

Comment on How you can help by Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea » Blog Archive » Welcome to the Aircraft Crash Sites at Sea project web pages

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:28:21 +0000

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