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On 21st December 1941, this aircraft crashed on take off 200 yards south of the Breakwater Fort at Plymouth, Devon.

Types

Short Sunderland Mk II (W3998)

History

Sunderland Mk II aircraft W3998 was manufactured by Short Bros., in Rochester under contract no 78939/40 as one of 23 aircraft. The aircraft went to 201 squadron on 10th December 1940 and held in reserve at Pembroke Dock while the remainder of the squadron were based at Castle Archdale on the shores of Loch Erne in Northern Island. In September 1941, the aircraft was to be transferred to Gibraltar to help out in the forming of 202 squadron. The aircraft flew from Pembroke dock to RAF Mount Batten where it most probably took on board more fuel. On the 20th December 1941 the Sunderland made attempts to take off on a calm sea at 4.20 on a line from the end of Mount Batten Pier to just East of the Breakwater Fort.

The first take off attempt was aborted, it can be difficult to ‘unstick’ a flying boat from the sea in calm conditions, but it succeeded on the second attempt. After passing the last of the ‘flare dinghies’, the aircraft left the water climbing sluggishly due to weight of fuel and extra passengers on board and unfortunately hit the breakwater. The aircraft came down in the sea 200m south of the breakwater, eleven of the fifteen on board were killed.

The eleven crew lost in the crash were:

Flight Lieutenant D. J. Fletcher
Flight Sergeant H. F. Mitchell
Corporal J. H. Martin
Aircraftsman R. Cunningham
Aircraftsman W. Watson
Aircraftsman J. Robinson
Sergeant H. L. Southall
Leading Aircraftsman J. W. Douglas
Aircraftsman K. W. Bennett
Leading Aircraftsman J. H. Wallace
Leading Aircraftsman J. B. Hides

Sergeant G.F.H. Booth, Pilot Officer W.W. Ince, Sergeant H.S. Lodge, and Sergeant A. Penny survived but were injured.

Location

This aircraft was located south of the Breakwater with the remains scattered over a wide area. Debris located in the area includes four engines with propellers, various pieces of airframe, crockery sherds with RAF insignia, some .303 ammunition plus other very corroded fittings.

Last updated 03 Jan 2022

Position GPS: Redacted

 


Information

Date Lost:

20 December 1941

Type:

Short Sunderland Mk II

Builder:

Short Brothers

Serial Number:

W3998

Unit:

202 Squadron

Base:

Gibraltar

Pilot:

 

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

Reference

None

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