Ditching of 77 Sqn Whitley P5046 (24 - 27 Sep 40)

[jonny]

Dear all,

I am hoping that someone may be able to assist me in identifying the Coastal Command units involved in the lengthy search and rescue of the crew of the above aircraft, please? The a/c ditched approximately 80 miles off Hartlepool whilst returning from a sortie against Berlin and the aircraft are sometimes described as either 'flying boats' (in the 77 Sqn ORB) or Hudsons. I have checked the 224 Sqn ORB , and they don't appear to have been involved.

Very many thanks

Jonny

[COL BRUGGY]

Hello,

No.220 Sqn RAF was involved in extensive searches for a ditched bomber/dinghy from 24/09/40:

No.220 Sqn ORB (F.541) Record of Events 1940 Sep 1 - 1940 Sep 30.
AIR 27/1365/26 - p.20 of 31 onwards.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8394535

Dinghy located. Sighted 233 Sqn Hudson WZS during searches.

See also: https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8394534 - p.5 onwards (F.540). Two survivors eventually picked (on 27/9/40) by boat from destroyers "Ashanti" or "Bedouin".

You can read an account of the ditching/rescue in the following publication:

"So Few" The Immortal Record of the Royal Air Force.
Masters,David.
London:Eyre & Spottiswoode,1943.
pp.133-139 (Chapter XVIII - Saved From The Sea)

Sole survivors's comments (Sgt [Air Gnr.] G. H. Riley): "The last day aircraft were above all the time. We had seen so many of them that we took no notice. It was a boat we wanted!"

Col.

[cozzy711]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=28356

according to this several squadrons involved including 254, 248 and 235 but no FB Squadrons

Chris

[jonny]

That's great. Thanks guys.