10th June 1942
CONVOY ESCORT: Sunderland B/95 took off from base at 2300 to carry out patrol ahead of W.S.19Q (Aquitania). B/95 did not return to base. It was subsequently reported that the aircraft circled the Aquitania at 00300/11 in position - 0902 N 1529 W and then flew NE. At 0400 something resembling a white verey light was seen by the Aquitania at 0830 N 1422 W at low height. When it became evident that the aircraft, whose ETA was 0730/11 was overdue, a search was orders. Details of the searches are set out in the Narrative below.
11th June 1942
CONVOY EXCORT: D/95 took off from base at 0630 to provide escort to convoy AS3. At 0710 hrs the aircraft sighted convoy O.S.29 at 0830 N 1417 W composed 10 M/Vs – 3 E/Vs. Convoy AS3 was met at 0847 hrs in position 0820 N 1723 W – 054 degs composed 3 M/Vs 2 E/Vs at 1221 course of convoy 038 degs, at 1230 hrs at which time it was in position 0908 M 1635 W – 140 degs 11½ kts. At 0855 hrs the aircraft received signal from Rockrose “White flare visible for a few seconds at 0143 this morning in position 0836 N 1855 W." At 1010 hrs the A/C received signal from base “Look-out for B/95 – overdue on track 292 degs from position X – F/95 searching”. D/95 searched area 0836 N 1855 W but nothing sighted. At 1150 hrs the aircraft received signal from base “B/95 last seen 0030Z in 0907 N 1519 W". Message received from Rockrose “Corvette Comm Drogou reported unidentified ship in position 0818 N 1912 W at 0030/11 and after being challenged altered course to northwards at great speed”. At 1340 hrs D/95 received signal from Corvette (183) – “Her course was due south – she made incorrect recognition signal but maybe Maloja” Sunderland returned to base and was waterborne at 1735 hrs.
JUI/013/11/6/42
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: N/95 was detailed to carry our search for overdue Sunderland B/95. Area searched by aircraft - 0959 N 1537 W, 0844 N 1608 W, 0753 N 1354 W and 0908 N 1326 W. At 1542 hrs E/95 sighted in position 0824 N 1430 W oil patches possibly petrol, largest patch ¾ mile long and 150 yards wide. This streak of comparatively recent origin, nothing else in vicinity. Sunderland was waterborne at base at 1910 hrs.
JUI/014/11/6/42
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: F/95 was airborne at 0630 hrs to carry out search for missing Sunderland B/95. Area searched – 0728 N 1407 W. 0753 N 1512 W, 0919 N 1435 W and 0852 N 1337 W. Returned via 0828 N 1430 W – nothing sighted, A/C was waterborne at base at 1732 hts.
JUI/015/12/6/41
12-6-42
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: F/95 was airborne at 0630 hrs to carry out search for missing Sunderland B/95. Area searched – 0728 N 1407 W. 0753 N 1512 W, 0919 N 1435 W and 0852 N 1337 W. Returned via 0825 N 1430 W – nothing sighted, A/C was waterborne at base at 1732 hrs.
JUI/015/12/6/42
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: A/95 took off from base at 0844 hrs to carry out search for missing Sunderland B/95. The aircraft carried out parallel track search based on 2½ miles visibility covering area – 0845 N 1435 W, 0920 N 1555 W, 0945 N 1540 W and 0928 N 1432 W, nothing of interest seen. At 1022 hrs A/95 received signal from base “Ensure careful search vicinity 0822 N 1430 W, the aircraft carried out square search for the given position 12 miles radius, nothing sighted. A/C returned to base and was waterborne at 1857 hrs.
JUI/016/12/6/42.
13th June 1642
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: Sunderland D/95 was detailed to carry out search for missing Sunderland B/95 and was airborne at 1023 hrs. The following area was searched – bounded by line joining positions X,Y, 0800 N 1700 W and 0910 N 1630 W
At 1232 hrs at 0834 N 1410 W the aircraft sighted large oil patch – may have been from convoy. At 1530 hrs the aircraft received message from base “Investigate raft in position – 0813 N 1408 W. At 1620 hrs the aircraft was over the signalled position but nothing sighted, Sunderland was waterborne at base at 1800 hrs.
JUI/018/13/6/42
CONVOY ESCORT: F/95 was airborne at 0813 hrs to provide escort to convoy W.S. 19Q. The convoy was met at 1256 hrs in position 0340 N 1545 W – 150 degs 21 kts composed 1 large M/V and was escorted until 1505 hrs at which time it was in posn 0317 N 1520 W – 160 degs 17 kts. At 0950 hrs the aircraft sighted 1 M/V at 0623 N 1350 W – 010 degs 10 kts and alter at 1238 hrs sighted H.M.S. Largo in position 0351 N 1555 W 040 degs 18 kts. Sunderland was waterborne at base at 1813 hrs.
JUI/019/13/6/42
14/6/75
SEARCH FOR SUNDERLAND: E/95 was detailed to carry out search for Sunderland B/95 and was airborne at 0642 hrs. The A/C searches area bounded by – 0915 N 1440 W, 0955 N 1415 W, 1000 N 1430 W and 0918 N 1449 W, Weather conditions in this area tolerable at first but deteriorated rapidly, nothing sighted. At 1015 the aircraft commenced search NW of area, aircraft had to abandon search owing to severe storms, at 1330 hrs the aircraft attempted to regain search area by coast-crawling but very bad weather again encountered, the aircraft returned to base and was waterborne at 1442 hrs.
JUI/020/14/6/42
Remembering the Lost Crew of L 5805 B/95 »
F/O Pybus
P/O Lawrence
P/O Henderson
F/Sgt Whalley
Sgt Greenman
Sgt V Comer
Sgt J E Burley
Sgt R G Greenman
LAC J M McNeill
LAC H K McCombie
