Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 15 October 1939
Aircraft Type: Short Sunderland Mk I
Owner/operator: 204 Sqn RAF
Registration Number: N9030
Location: Plymouth Sound, Devon, England – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: Sunderland Mk 1 aircraft (N9030)Sunderland Mk 1 aircraft (N9030)
Category: Accident
On October 15, 1939, a Sunderland aircraft from 204 Squadron was returning from a patrol off Vermount when it crashed while landing in poor visibility. The aircraft was forced to take evasive action due to barrage balloons flying over the Hoe, resulting in a sharp turn and a cartwheel into the sea.On October 15, 1939, a Sunderland aircraft from 204 Squadron was returning from a patrol off Vermount when it crashed while landing in poor visibility. The aircraft was forced to take evasive action due to barrage balloons flying over the Hoe, resulting in a sharp turn and a cartwheel into the sea.

Description

Sunderland N9030: On returning from patrol off Vermount crashed while landing in bad visibility. 15/10/1939 On Sunday 15th October 1939, an RAF Mk 1 Sunderland N9030 (KG-B) from 204 Squadron was coming into land from the south over the breakwater, but a naval picket boat in Plymouth Sound crossed in front of the aircraft forcing it to take avoiding action. The Sunderland couldn?t pull up due to the barrage balloons that were flying over the Hoe, so it turned sharply to port and tried to head south out of the Sound, but the port wing caught the top of the breakwater and it cartwheeled into sea and broke up. Crew: F/Lt. Howard Bertram JOHNSON (37182) pilot RAF Ok. F/O Dennis FORD (37631) Co.Pilot RAF killed Sgt. WATKINS RAF injured. AC.2 William Henry FIDDOCK (619855) RAF killed AC.2 John Henry HAYWARD (621542) RAF killed AC2 Joseph Douglas WHITFORD (552435) RAF killed and five other crewmen all rescued unhurt.

Primary Cause

Poor visibility and the presence of barrage balloons obstructing the aircraft’s view.Poor visibility and the presence of barrage balloons obstructing the aircraft’s view.

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