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RAF Sunderland flying boat N9030 from 204 Squadron crashed on landing in Plymouth Sound after avoiding a collision with a picket boat.
Types
Short Sunderland Mk 1 (N9030)
History
On Sunday 15th October 1939, an RAF Mk 1 Sunderland N9030 (KG-B) from 204 Squadron was coming into land from the south over the breakwater, but a naval picket boat in Plymouth Sound crossed in front of the aircraft forcing it to take avoiding action. The Sunderland couldn’t pull up due to the barrage balloons that were flying over the Hoe, so it turned sharply to port and tried to head south out of the Sound, but the port wing caught the top of the breakwater and it cartwheeled into sea and broke up.
Of the eleven on board, four died in the crash:
Co-pilot F/O. Dennis Ford, (37631), 27
AC2 Joseph Douglas Whitford, (552435), 18
AC2 William Henry Fiddock, (619855), 18
AC2 John William Hayward, (621542), 24
The body of William Fiddock was never found.
Location
The remains of this aircraft are scattered over Panther Shoal, to the south of the west end of Plymouth breakwater. Three engines were recovered, and one still remains on the east side of the shoal in 12m depth, propped up on the rocks.
Last updated 03 Jan 2022
Information
Date Lost:
15 October 1939
Type:
Short Sunderland Mk 1
Builder:
Short Brothers
Serial Number:
N9030 (KG-B)
Unit:
204 Sqdn
Base:
Mound Batten, Plymouth
Pilot:
Flt.Lt. H.B. Johnson
Construction
All-metal, mainly flush-riveted construction, control surfaces fabric covered metal frame
Propulsion
4 x Bristol Pegasus XXII 9 cylinder, single row radial engines
Status
Located by divers, engines and other parts recovered.
Reference
None
.
Not Set
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