Short S.25 Sunderland

Landing (descent or approach)

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Registration:

W6013

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In the early morning, while descending to the RAF Castle Archdale in marginal weather conditions, the seaplane hit the slope of Mt Knocklayd located south of Ballycastle. Nine crew members were killed while three others were injured. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was poor.
Crew (423rd Squadron):
S/L Thomas, pilot,
F/O Blair, copilot 10.

Probable cause:

According to RAF Command, the accident was caused by a premature descend in marginal weather conditions and low visibility.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Nigg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1943

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

L2168

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

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Invergordon - Invergordon

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The crew left RAF Invergordon to perform a night training mission consisting of landing practice. Apparently, an engine caught fire in flight and the seaplane crashed into the Cromarty Firth off the village of Nigg. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (4th OTU):
George Robert Sawhill Riddell,
John Raymond Harnwell,
William McCarroll,
Sydney Albert Spencer.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Atlantic Ocean: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1943 at 1745 LT

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Registration:

W6031

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Flight Type:

Bombing

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Enniskillen - Enniskillen

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The crew left RAF Enniskillen at 1145LT on a bombing mission over the Atlantic Ocean. Following the attack of the German U-Boat registered U-648, the crew gained altitude and left the combat area. Approximately one hour later, the crew sent several mayday messages and informed ground that he was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The captain ditched the aircraft some 900 km west off Vigo, Spain, around 1745LT. SAR operations were deployed but no trace of the aircraft nor the 11 crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/Sgt Bruce Goulden Burton,
F/Sgt Robert Aird Park,
Sgt Norman Percival Cook,
Sgt Ronald Montague Fisher,
Sgt Noel Neil Lewis,
Sgt Walter McKay,
F/O Charles Gordon Gorrie,
F/O Wilfred Sydney Johnston,
F/O Robert Harry Strauss,
F/O Jan David Butler Ulrichsen,
F/Sgt Norman Barrett.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Donegal: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

DD863

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

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Enniskillen - Enniskillen

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The crew was engaged in a convoy escort mission when he encountered engine problems. The captain informed ground he was attempting to return to RAF Enniskillen when the seaplane crashed into the sea off Donegal. Due to rough sea, SAR operations were abandoned few days later and no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (423rd Squadron):
F/Lt A. F. Brazenor,
F/Sgt S. G. Brockway,
F/Sgt R. J. Money,
Sgt H. W. Fell,
Sgt H. E. E. Attwood,
Sgt M. F. Flynn,
Sgt D. Bigmore,
Sgt L. Morgan,
F/Sgt R. W. Stiff,
P/O R. H. Wilson
F/O H. B. Pharis.

Probable cause:

Unknown engine problems.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I off Enniskillen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

DP181

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Flight Type:

Training

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On landing on Lough Erne off Enniskillen, a bow split opened, causing the seaplane to sink. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (423rd Squadron):
W/O William D. Scott,
W/O Charles McDowell Hardcastle,
F/O Rowland W. Hill,
F/O Walter G. Arnold,
P/O Gordon I. Raymond.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Bay of Biscay: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1943 at 1755 LT

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Registration:

EK572

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Flight Type:

Military

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Pembroke Dock - Gibraltar

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While approaching the Spanish coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the Bay of Biscay, killing all 12 occupants.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Libya: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1943 at 2245 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGIB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Cairo - Djerba - Poole

YOM:

1943

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While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland off Bathurst: 9 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1943 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

JM710

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Training

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Bathurst - Bathurst

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The crew was engaged in a night training sortie out of Bathurst, Gambia. On approach, while completing a last turn to the left, the seaplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion into the sea. All nine crewmen were killed.
Crew (208th Squadron):
F/O J. G. Finney, pilot,
F/O S. B. Cuthbert, copilot,
F/Sgt R. G. Craig, flight engineer,
Sgt R. D. Britton, navigator,
Sgt G. Weston, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt B. S. Evans, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt E. C. Hobbins, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt H. Revell, fitter and air gunner,
F/Sgt R. B. Billows, air gunner.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident is obscure. The aircraft crashed whilst turning on its circuit prior to landing. A possible cause was that the Pilot with not much night flying experience returned to RAF Bathurst whilst the weather conditions were not ideal, and the aircraft stalled in its turn. It was thought that the pilot was about to make his run up the flare path to set the gyro, as is normal practice, and stalled in the turn.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III on Brandon Peak: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1943 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

DD848

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