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Wellington Mk II bomber W5581 from 405 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force based at Pocklington, Yorkshire, ditched into the sea in Whitsand Bay.

Type

Vickers Wellington Mk II (W5581)

History

On 24th July 1941, during an attack on the battleship Gneisenau, docked at Brest, the Wellington aircraft from 405 Squadron was attacked in successive air battles by four enemy aircraft, including three German Messerschmitt BF-109 fighters. The aircraft fabric was extensively damaged and caught fire but the flames were extinguished before they took hold.  The aircraft headed for base but flew over Rame Head and ditched just off the beach off Tregantle Fort, Whitsand Bay, only 300 yards from land, the crew boarded the aircraft dinghy and were picked up by a motor boat which took them ashore.

Rear gunner Sgt G.K. Higgins RAF was wounded, Pilot Sgt J.W. Craig RAF and Sgt H.S. McNeill RAF injured, Sgt Leonard RAF, Sgt Bain RAF and Sgt J.J. Hughes RAF were recovered safe. Sgt Higgins claimed to have shot down two of the fighters that attacked this bomber.

Portwrinkle resigent Margaret Bartlett was interviewed by Brian Jones and she told the story of how she saw the Wellington crash in the sea and it was her father and uncle that recused the aircrew:

Then the Wellington bomber came down off Tregantle.   I was in the road with some fish for Granny Andrews up at the end and I heard a noise and when I turned round this bomber came up over Rame Head and the tide was just coming in and he landed just in the water like that.   And my uncle was behind me and I said oh uncle quick get father, and they run and I never saw them run so fast in my life.   They got in our big boat, went out and brought the airmen back [Margaret Bartlett]

It is believed that the aircraft was salvaged from the beach.

Location

Off Tregantle Fort, Whitsand Bay

Last updated 29 Aug 2021

Position GPS: Tregantle

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Information

Date Lost:

24th July 1941

Type:

Vickers Wellington Mk II (W5581)

Builder:

Vickers-Armstrong

Serial Number:

W5581

Unit:

405 Squadron

Base:

Pocklington, Yorkshire

Pilot:

Sgt J.W. Craig RAF

Construction

Duralumin, wood, linen

Propulsion

Rolls Royce Merlin X

Status

Salvaged?

Reference

None

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