Date & Time:
Jun 11, 1943 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7273
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
442
YOM:
1941
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
8
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a SAR mission over the Atlantic ocean to localize the crew of a RAF Boeing B-17 registered FA704 that crashed into the sea after being shot down by a German submarine about 200 km northwest of the Feroe Islands. For unknown reasons, the seaplane landed hard and came to rest upside down. All nine occupants were able to evacuate and took refuge in two dinghies. Unfortunately, the crew of USS Symbol arrived on scene six days later only, on June 17. On site, only one survivor could be evacuated as all eight other occupants were found dead.
Probable cause:
As the cause of the accident is unknown, it appears that survivors suffered a storm during several days after the accident and the only survivor was seriously injured.
