Comments on: Sunderland Flying Boats http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php Shipwrecks and diving around Devon and the world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:07:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: David Ross http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-43009 David Ross Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:04:56 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-43009 My Grandfather FH Clarke registered number 7104 was alo a member of the 10 Sqd and also a Filight Engineer on DV969. He was not on th eplane (due to illness) the day it was shot down My Grandfather FH Clarke registered number 7104 was alo a member of the 10 Sqd and also a Filight Engineer on DV969. He was not on th eplane (due to illness) the day it was shot down

]]> By: Richard Gibbons http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-40659 Richard Gibbons Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:14:41 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-40659 Ken Harris. Did you know that your uncle Flying Officer Hamilton Roland Dacre ‘Bob’ Budd was a brilliant pianist and a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium? He was the 2nd Pilot on Sunderland W4020 and Flight Lieutenant K G Fry was Captain. There were three pilots on board, all lost on that fatal flight. There is more info in the book “Maritime is Number Ten” by Flt Lt K C Baff, with the crew names etc. It would be interesting to know who Dean Lance’s grandfather was. Presumably on his maternal side as there was no Lance on W4020. The names of the six crew who lost their lives are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, UK. There were six survivors. You can contact me by email rmgibbons at hotmail.com using the subject heading Sunderland W4020 so I know its not junk mail. Richard Gibbons Ken Harris. Did you know that your uncle Flying Officer Hamilton Roland Dacre ‘Bob’ Budd was a brilliant pianist and a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium? He was the 2nd Pilot on Sunderland W4020 and Flight Lieutenant K G Fry was Captain. There were three pilots on board, all lost on that fatal flight. There is more info in the book “Maritime is Number Ten” by Flt Lt K C Baff, with the crew names etc. It would be interesting to know who Dean Lance’s grandfather was. Presumably on his maternal side as there was no Lance on W4020. The names of the six crew who lost their lives are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, UK. There were six survivors. You can contact me by email rmgibbons at hotmail.com using the subject heading Sunderland W4020 so I know its not junk mail. Richard Gibbons

]]> By: Ken Harris http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-40274 Ken Harris Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:22:57 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-40274 I read with interest the comment posted by Dean Lance on Nov 4 2010 where he explains that his grandfather was on the Sunderland W4020 which was in action against U454 in Bay of Biscay and subsequently lost after sinking the u-boat on 1 Aug 1943. My uncle, Flt Officer Hamilton Budd was on that flight, he may have been the pilot, but sadly was lost as result of this action with this u-boat. Dean, I would love to make contact with you!! Ken Harris. I read with interest the comment posted by Dean Lance on Nov 4 2010 where he explains that his grandfather was on the Sunderland W4020 which was in action against U454 in Bay of Biscay and subsequently lost after sinking the u-boat on 1 Aug 1943.
My uncle, Flt Officer Hamilton Budd was on that flight, he may have been the pilot, but sadly was lost as result of this action with this u-boat.
Dean, I would love to make contact with you!!
Ken Harris.

]]> By: Sam McBride http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-38219 Sam McBride Sun, 08 May 2011 18:47:34 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-38219 I know that my greatuncle, Capt. Frederic Thornton Peters, VC, DSO, DSC and bar, DSC (U.S.), RN died in the Nov. 13, 1942 Sunderland crash near Plymouth, along with British Brigadier Frank Vogel (who worked in Eisenhower's staff), but I have never seen the names of the other three passengers who died from the crash. It is remarkable that the 11 crew members all survived. The pilot, Wynton Thorpe, found Capt. Peters still alive in the water and tried to drag him to safety but gave up in exhaustion after about an hour because it was obvious Peters was dead from exposure (combined with injuries he suffered at Oran and in the plane crash). Thorpe died in 2008 at age 88. His family had donated his life jacket from the crash to the Australian War Memorial. I contacted his son, Brooke Thorpe, in Australia and had an interesting discussion. The Australians did not know the name of the "Naval Captain" until I confirmed with them that it was Capt. Peters. I know that my greatuncle, Capt. Frederic Thornton Peters, VC, DSO, DSC and bar, DSC (U.S.), RN died in the Nov. 13, 1942 Sunderland crash near Plymouth, along with British Brigadier Frank Vogel (who worked in Eisenhower’s staff), but I have never seen the names of the other three passengers who died from the crash. It is remarkable that the 11 crew members all survived. The pilot, Wynton Thorpe, found Capt. Peters still alive in the water and tried to drag him to safety but gave up in exhaustion after about an hour because it was obvious Peters was dead from exposure (combined with injuries he suffered at Oran and in the plane crash). Thorpe died in 2008 at age 88. His family had donated his life jacket from the crash to the Australian War Memorial. I contacted his son, Brooke Thorpe, in Australia and had an interesting discussion. The Australians did not know the name of the “Naval Captain” until I confirmed with them that it was Capt. Peters.

]]> By: Brendan Nicholson http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-32773 Brendan Nicholson Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:31:00 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-32773 I read, many years ago, a book by a former U-boat commander whose boat was attacked by a Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. He described how the aircraft, which he said was flown by an Australian sergeant-pilot, kept attacking despite heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire until the Sunderland was heavily ablaze. It crashed into the sea with no survivors. I, sadly, loaned the book to a colleague and lost it long ago. Anyone know anything about that episode or who the Aussie pilot may have been? Regards Brendan Nicholson Defence Editor The Australian newspaper nicholsonb@theaustralian.com.au I read, many years ago, a book by a former U-boat commander whose boat was attacked by a Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. He described how the aircraft, which he said was flown by an Australian sergeant-pilot, kept attacking despite heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire until the Sunderland was heavily ablaze. It crashed into the sea with no survivors.

I, sadly, loaned the book to a colleague and lost it long ago.

Anyone know anything about that episode or who the Aussie pilot may have been?

Regards

Brendan Nicholson
Defence Editor
The Australian newspaper
nicholsonb@theaustralian.com.au

]]> By: Dean Lance http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-24630 Dean Lance Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:35:56 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-24630 My Grandfather was a navigator and member of the 10 Squadronon Sunderland Seaplanes during the war. His plane, Sunderland W4020, was shot down over the Bay of Biscay on the 1st of August 1943 after engaging a U-boat. I wonder if there are any other crew members who knew him there. Additional details At 14.40 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. AA fire hit the aircraft repeatedly, but the depth charges were right on target and broke U-454 in two. The flying boat tried to ditch due to the damages sustained and crashed, killing the pilot and five crewmen. Six survivors were picked up by HMS Wren of the 2nd Escort Group, while HMS Kite picked up the commander and 13 survivors from the boat. My Grandfather was a navigator and member of the 10 Squadronon Sunderland Seaplanes during the war. His plane, Sunderland W4020, was shot down over the Bay of Biscay on the 1st of August 1943 after engaging a U-boat. I wonder if there are any other crew members who knew him there.

Additional details
At 14.40 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. AA fire hit the aircraft repeatedly, but the depth charges were right on target and broke U-454 in two. The flying boat tried to ditch due to the damages sustained and crashed, killing the pilot and five crewmen. Six survivors were picked up by HMS Wren of the 2nd Escort Group, while HMS Kite picked up the commander and 13 survivors from the boat.

]]> By: Maureen http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-24269 Maureen Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:01:47 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-24269 Thank you for this fascinating account. My father was also a member of 10 Squadron. His plane, Sunderland DV969, was shot down over the Bay of Biscay in September 1943. No survivors or wreckage was ever found, as far as I know. I too have several photographs of the crew and books about the Squadron, where my father is mentioned. He was posted os when I was 3 weeks old, so I never had the chance to know him. The older I get the sadder this makes me feel. Thank you for this fascinating account. My father was also a member of 10 Squadron. His plane, Sunderland DV969, was shot down over the Bay of Biscay in September 1943. No survivors or wreckage was ever found, as far as I know.

I too have several photographs of the crew and books about the Squadron, where my father is mentioned. He was posted os when I was 3 weeks old, so I never had the chance to know him. The older I get the sadder this makes me feel.

]]> By: Heather Tweed http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-23711 Heather Tweed Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:42:03 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-23711 Dennis Tweed has a new book about his experiences on Sunderland Flying Boats during the Korean War based at Seletar, Iwakuni etc... There is a googlemap link from his website to some of the locations. The book can be previewed at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1661557 I just love the cover photo of him, Health & Safety? Dennis Tweed has a new book about his experiences on Sunderland Flying Boats during the Korean War based at Seletar, Iwakuni etc…
There is a googlemap link from his website to some of the locations.
The book can be previewed at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1661557
I just love the cover photo of him, Health & Safety?

]]> By: C.Allison http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-23674 C.Allison Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:21:48 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-23674 An interesting narration concerning a very interesting aircraft, thank you for sharing this. An interesting narration concerning a very interesting aircraft, thank you for sharing this.

]]> By: Chris Tattersall http://www.submerged.co.uk/sunderlandflyingboats.php#comment-23007 Chris Tattersall Tue, 05 Oct 2010 09:59:53 +0000 http://submerged.co.uk/wordpress/2007/07/01/sunderlandflyingboats/#comment-23007 My Dad was a navigator on Sunderland Seaplanes during the war. He was flying along the coast of Africa, protecting the merchant shipping lanes from U-boat attack as far as I can remember. He mentioned being in Freetown I think. I wonder if there are any other crew members who knew him there. My Dad was a navigator on Sunderland Seaplanes during the war. He was flying along the coast of Africa, protecting the merchant shipping lanes from U-boat attack as far as I can remember. He mentioned being in Freetown I think. I wonder if there are any other crew members who knew him there.

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